Home UK English paddock's spindle

Meaning of paddock's spindle in English:

paddock's spindle

noun

rare Scottish

  • Either of two orchids, the early purple orchid, Orchis mascula, and the spotted orchid, Dactylorhiza maculata.

Origin

Late 19th century; earliest use found in James Britten (1846–1924), botanist and Roman Catholic propagandist. Sc. National Dict s.v. Puddock n. records the word as still in use in Ayrshire in 1966.