Venus1. World English Historical Dictionary

Venus1. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1928, rev. 2024. Venus1 Pl. Venuses (7, 9 Veneres). Also 5–6 Sc. Wenus. [L. Venus (gen. Veneris).]

1   I.  1. Mythol. The ancient Roman goddess of beauty and love (esp. sensual love), or the corresponding Greek goddess Aphrodite.

2 a. 1000.  Sal. & Sat. (Kemble), 124. Ðone syxtan dæʓ hi ʓesetton ðære sceamleasan gydenan Uenus ʓehaten, and Frycg on Denisc.

3 1297.  R. Glouc., Chron. (Rolls), 2433. After him [Jupiter] we honoureþ venus mest, þat frie ycluped is.

4 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 604. So faire ladies ar none lyuand; Bot me þynkes of ȝow þre Dame Venus semes fairest to be.

5 1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 84. The Coper set is to Venus, And to his part Mercurius.

6 1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 3443. In honour only of Venus, þe goddes, Whom þe Grekis with al her besynes Honoured most of euery maner age.

7 1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, xiv. 50. Certes, Venus, thou and thy sone Cupydo are gretely to be praysed.

8 1508.  Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 21. The birdis sang … With curiouse note, as Venus chapell clerkis.

9 1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., IV. ii. Thou shalt … Sit like to Venus in her chaire of state, Commanding all thy princely eie desires.

10 1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., III. 1064. As if this troublesome intruding Guest Would drive the Birds of Venus [= doves] from their Nest.

11 1781.  Cowper, Conversat., 824. Certain feasts … Where Venus hears the lover’s tender vow.

12 1835.  Thirlwall, Greece, I. 141. The temple of Venus at Eryx, which was most probably founded by Phœnicians.

13 1875.  Encycl. Brit., II. 172/2. The native Roman goddess Venus, as distinguished from the Venus who through contact with the Greeks was afterwards identified with Aphrodite.

14   b.  In allusive use: (cf. sense 2).

15 c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3890. Þere wole he outen his langage, And do to Bachus and Venus homage.

16 c. 1508.  C. Blowbol’s Test., 62. in Hazlitt, E. P. P., I. 94. He gaf me many a good certacion … That he had laboured in Venus secret celle.

17 1693.  trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), s.v. Maslach, Sometimes they take Three Drams, without any prejudice, especially when they are about to Fight the Battels of Mars or Venus.

18 a. 1796.  Burns, Lines Windows Globe Tavern, Dumfries. In wars at hame I’ll spend my blood, Life-giving wars of Venus.

19 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, IV. vii. ¶ 8. He could not stomach those beauties who call a spade a spade. Such were not for his market; the rites of Venus must be consummated in the temple of Vesta.

20   c.  A representation, esp. a statue or image, of Venus.

21 a. 1568.  Ascham, Scholem., II. Wks. (1904), 301. Cæsar … is like the halfe face of a Venus, the other part of the head beyng hidden, the bodie and the rest of the members vnbegon.

22 1601.  Holland, Pliny, II. 566. But of all the images that ever were made,… his [sc. Praxiteles] Venus passeth, which hee wrought for them of Gnidos.

23 a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 23 May 1645. ’Twixt the pictures two naked Venus’s by Titian. Ibid. A Venus of marble, veiled from the middle to the feete.

24 1722.  Richardson, Statues etc. in Italy, 134. There is a Venus which stands just by This which is Irreproachable.

25 1834.  Penny Cycl., II. 157/2. Many representations of the goddess [Aphrodite] … are extant: among these, the celebrated statue, called the Venus de’ Medici, is that with which we are most familiarized.

26 1850.  Thackeray, Pendennis, lii. The wig-box beside the Venus upon the middle shelf of the book-case.

27   d.  A local or other distinct conception of the goddess; also transf., a goddess in other mythologies corresponding to Venus.

28 1770.  Percy, trans. Mallet’s Northern Antiq., I. 94. This Frea became in the sequel … the Venus of the north, doubtless because she passed for the principle of all fecundity.

29 1828.  Duppa, Trav. Italy, etc. 136. He also shewed us a little bronze statue of a Venus.

30 1877.  W. R. Cooper, Egyptian Obelisks, vii. (1878), 30. Under the special protection of Hathor, the Egyptian Venus.

31   † 2.  The desire for sexual intercourse; indulgence of sexual desire; lust, venery. Obs.

32 1513.  Douglas, Æneid, IV. Prol. 97. Childir to engener ois Venus, and nocht in vane.

33 1573.  L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 253. Sardanapalus … was alwaies werid but never satisfied with Venus.

34 1620.  Venner, Via Recta, iii. 61. It yeeldeth very good nourishment, which … encreaseth seede, and exciteth Venus.

35 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 259. What’s more strange, their modest Appetites, Averse from Venus, fly the Nuptial Rites.

36 1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. xviii. 43. If Venus be his darling Vice. Ibid. (1746), Sat., I. iv. 148. An honest Venus will indulge your Flame.

37   † 3.  A quality or characteristic that excites love; a charm, grace or attractive feature. Obs.

38 1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, L iv b. Here dwell Venusis and graces of al kynd.

39 1607.  Middleton, Five Gallants, I. i. A pretie, fat eyde wench, with a Venus in her cheeke.

40 1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. IV. vi. All the Graces, Veneres, pleasures, elegances attend him.

41 1642.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 236. Know’st not how many Venuses appear In others gold?

42 1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. 138. Everyone is a virtuoso, of a higher or lower degree: every-one pursues a Grace, and courts a Venus of one kind or another. Ibid., 337. If he knows not this Venus, these Graces [etc.].

43   † b.  Beauty; charm. Obs. rare.

44 1657.  G. Thornley, Daphnis & Chloe, 181. The Garden;… the place now made a waste;… all the Venus of the place was gone.

45 1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. 337. To discover, amidst the many false manners and ill stiles, the true and natural one, which represents the real beauty and Venus of the kind. Ibid. ’Tis the like moral Grace, and Venus, which … is copy’d by the writing artist.

46   4.  A beautiful or attractive woman.

47 a. 1579.  T. Hacket, trans. Amadis of Fr., VIII. 188 (Stf.). One day ye reputed me for a Venus, that rested … in your heart.

48 1675.  J. Smith, Chr. Relig. App., III. 8. The great Beauty of the Land, an Helen, a Venus.

49 1706–7.  Farquhar, Beaux. Strat., IV. ii. Had my Spark call’d me a Venus directly, I shou’d have believ’d him a Footman in good earnest.

50 a. 1814.  Woman’s Will, II. i. in New Brit. Theatre, IV. 62. Witness the Hottentot Venus before she has strung on her beads.

51 1816.  Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, i. (1818), 18. The dreams they had indulged in of the sable Venuses which they were to find on the banks of the Congo.

52 a. 1841.  T. Hook, Ned Musgrave, i. The evening on which he first saw this Venus of the village.

53   II.  5. Astr. The second planet in order of distance from the sun, revolving in an orbit between those of Mercury and the earth; the morning or evening star.

54 c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 311. Sethþe þe sonne is, Venus sethþe, þe clere steorre.

55 1297.  R. Glouc., Chron. (Rolls), 4704. To tueye sterren, þat me sucþ ylome, Venus & Mercurius, hii weneþ þat hii bicome.

56 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1016. The bryght venus folwede and ay taughte The wey, ther brode Phebus down alighte.

57 c. 1400.  Treat. Astron., 8 b (MS. Bodl. B. 17). The secunde owre of þe same day is the owre of þe planet Venus.

58 c. 1480.  Henryson, Test. Cres., 11. Fair Venus, the bewtie of the nicht, Uprais.

59 1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 107. Let her shine as gloriously As the Venus of the sky.

60 1664.  Butler, Hud., II. iii. 530. Venus you retriv’d, In opposition with Mars, And no benigne friendly Stars T’ allay th’ effect.

61 1727–46.  Thomson, Summer, 1695. Sudden to heaven Thence weary vision turns; where … with purest ray Sweet Venus shines.

62 1771.  Encycl. Brit., I. 436/2. When Venus appears west of the sun, she rises before him in the morning, and is called the morning-star; when she appears east of the sun, she shines in the evening after he sets, and is then called the evening-star.

63 1842.  Francis, Dict. Arts, s.v., Venus changes her phases like those of the moon, according to her position, relative to the earth and sun.

64 1868.  Lockyer, Guillemin’s Heavens (ed. 3), 81. Thus the solid ground of Venus is uneven, like that of Mercury and the Earth.

65   † 6.  Alch. Copper. (In quot. 1797 allusively.)

66 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 276. Sol gold is,… and Jubiter is tyn, And Venus coper, by my fader kyn.

67 1594.  Plat, Jewell-ho., I. 20. The Alcumists giue a blauncher vnto Venus with the salt of Tartar.

68 1610.  B. Jonson, Alch., II. i. The great med’cine! Of which one part proiected on a hundred Of Mercurie, or Venus, or the Moone, Shall turne it to as many of the Sunne.

69 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Copper, The Chymists call it Venus; as supposing it to have some more immediate Relation to that Planet.

70 1758.  [see JUPITER 2 b].

71 1797.  W. Johnston, trans. Beckmann’s Invent., I. 398. One may justly doubt whether, at present, Mars, Venus, or Saturn, is most destructive to the human race.

72   † b.  So in crystals, saffron, salt, vinegar, vitriol of Venus (see quots.). Obs.

73 1693.  Phil. Trans., XVII. 901. This very elaborate method of procuring the Salt of Venus.

74 1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Vitriol of Copper or Venus is Blue Chrystals made by a Solution of Copper in Spirit of Nitre, Evaporation, and Chrystallization in a cool place.

75 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Copper, The Calx of Brass, called … sometimes … Saffron of Venus, is nothing but Copper calcin’d in a violent Fire.

76 1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVI. 623. The acetous salt of copper, called crystals of Venus, or of verdigris, by the chemists.

77 1807.  T. Thomson, Chem. (ed. 3), II. 259. When acetate of copper, reduced to powder, is put into a retort and distilled, there comes over a liquid … and afterwards a highly concentrated acid…. The acid … was formerly distinguished by the names of radical vinegar and vinegar of Venus.

78   † 7.  Her. A name for the tincture green or vert when the names of planets are used in blazonry.

79 [1562.  Legh, Armory, 16. I pray you what planet belongeth to this colour [sc. vert]? Venus.]

80 1572.  Bossewell, Armorie, II. 78 b. The fielde is parted per Fesse Dented, Venus, and Saturne, five brasauntes.

81 1680.  Sir G. Mackenzie, Her., 18–19.

82 1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Vert, the Heralds Word for a Green Colour;… in Coats of Nobles, ’tis called Emerauld; and in those of Kings ’tis called Venus.

83   8.  The highest or most favorable cast or throw in playing with huckle-bones.

84 1611.  Cotgr., s.v., The play at huckle-bones, wherein he that turns vp Venus (figured on one side of the bone) doth winne; whereas he that turnes vp the dog, doth lose.

85 c. 1650.  in MS. Ashmole 788, fol. 162. The game of Astragalls…. When all ye fower boanes shal shew seuerall sides this is the most fortunate cast & is called Midas or Venus take all Cock-all.

86 1737.  Ozell, Rabelais, III. p. xvi. Venus was the best Cast, three Sices.

87 [1876.  Browning, At the ‘Mermaid,’ xv. Well may you blaspheme at fortune! I ‘threw Venus’ (Ben, expound!).]

88   9.  Girdle, mound, mount, ring of Venus, in palmistry (see quots.); also mount of Venus, in anatomy (see quot. 1728).

89   Cf. Venus girdle (1653), in 12 below.

90 1695.  Congreve, Love for L., II. iii. She has … a moist Palm, and an open Liberality on the Mount of Venus.

91 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Mount of Venus, Mons Veneris, among Anatomists, is a little hairy Protuberance, in the middle of the Pubes of Women. Ibid. Among Chiromancers, the Mount of Venus is a little Eminence in the Palm of the Hand, at the Root of one of the Fingers.

92 1865.  Beamish, Psychon. Hand, 31. The line of Saturn, the ring of Venus, and the line of Apollo.

93 1894.  Paul Bello, Palmistry, 21. The Girdle of Venus is a line describing a semicircle, extending from between the Mounts of Jupiter and Saturn to the Mount of Mercury. This girdle is generally absent.

94 1900.  Ina Oxenford, Mod. Palmistry, 22. The Mount of Venus encircles the root of the thumb, and is bounded more or less by the Life-line.

95   10.  Zool. A genus of bivalve mollusks typically representing the family Veneridæ; a member of this genus or family; a venerid. Cf. CLAM sb.2 1 d.

96 1770.  Pennant, Brit. Zool. (1777), IV. [p. xiv]. Commercial Venus [and various other species]. Ibid., 93.

97 1802–3.  trans. Pallas’s Trav. (1812), II. 293. A ribbed Venus, rounded at one extremity.

98 1857.  Gosse, Omphalos, viii. 228. That lilac-tinted Prickly Venus (Dione Veneris).

99 1880.  Bastian, Brain, 75. The Razor-fish, Cockle, Venus, and other bivalves possessing … ‘siphon-tubes.’

100   β. pl.  1770.  Pennant, Brit. Zool. (1777), IV. 89. Tellina rugosa.… Dredged up at Weymouth. Misplaced among the Venuses.

101 1822.  J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 257. That these supposed fresh-water shells are sometimes found scattered among a multitude of acknowledged sea shells, as, Oysters, Venus’s, &c.

102 1843.  Penny Cycl., XXVI. 209/2. In the Veneres the animal, furnished with longer siphons, is provided with a retractor muscle.

103   III.  attrib. and Comb.

104   11.  Simple attrib. (also possessive without ’s), as Venus bower, court, knot, † mole, † star, throw, etc.

105 c. 1550.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 90. In *Venus Bowr to eik baith game and glew.

106 1513.  Douglas, Æneid, IV. Prol. 159. Lat ws in riot leif, in sport and gam, In *Venus court.

107 1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 108. If [she is] one of Venus court, they haue vowed dishonestye.

108 1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 171. I sweare to thee,… By the simplicitie of *Venus Doues.

109 1876.  T. Hardy, Ethelberta (1877), 35. Her hair fastened in a sort of *Venus knot behind.

110 1620.  Swetnam Arraigned (1880), 45. By Art they know … how to adde A *Venus mole on euery wanton cheeke.

111 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., II. vi. 5. O ten times faster *Venus Pidgions flye To steale loues bonds new made.

112 1902.  Edinb. Rev., Oct., 321. Helen, by reason of the *Venus-spell,… loves Paris.

113 a. 1593.  Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, 39. *Venus swannes shall shed their siluer downe, To sweeten out the slumbers of thy bed.

114 1591.  Spenser, Daphn., 483. And night without a *Venus starre is found.

115 1611.  Florio, Venere,… the day or morning star, called Lucifer or Venus star.

116 1879.  Lewis & Short, Lat. Dict., Venerens, the *Venus-throw at dice.

117   b.  In sense 2, as Venus act, exercise, life, play, work, etc.

118 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 753. Þai solast hom samyn … With venus werkes, þat hom well pleasid.

119 1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 399. He that wantes riches, And valȝeandnes in Venus play, is ful vile haldin.

120 1513.  Douglas, Æneid, IV. Prol. 187. With Venus henvifis quhat wyse may I flite?

121 a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 158. That licherie and wenus lyfe hes oft tymes a euill end.

122 1611.  Florio, Venereo,… given to Venus-sports, or letchery.

123 1617.  Moryson, Itin., II. 166. Most of them when they were stripped, were seene to have scarres of Venus warfare.

124 1623.  Cockeram, I. Venus-escuage, wanton fleshlinesse. Ibid., III. Barnacle, a kinde of Sea Gull, it growes not by Venus act, but as Dubartas writes [etc.].

125 1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 151. Opium … makes them strong and long in Venus exercises.

126 1658.  Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 1004. Unless there had been plenty of milk at hand, this Venus bird had died and suffered deservedly for his Lechery.

127 1786.  Burns, A Dream, xiii. A glorious Galley,… Weel rigg’d for Venus barter.

128 1821.  Liddle, Poems, 26. Your venus jobs now’s a’ kend thro’ The Loudins braid.

129   c.  In sense 10.

130 1816.  Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, ii. (1818), 58. Fragments of shells of the cockle and venus genera.

131 1861.  P. P. Carpenter, in Rep. Smithsonian Instit., 1860, 256. The Venus-tribe may be regarded as the types of the Lamellibranchs.

132   12.  Special combs. (of the possessive, with or without ’s): Venus † gem, † girdle, † hair, Venus’s hair-stone, pencil (see quots.).

133 1601.  Holland, Pliny, II. 621. Such Amethysts as these…; many give them the name of Venus gems, for the great grace that they have … both in fashion and colour. Ibid., 629. The stone called Venus haire, is exceeding blacke and shining; howbeit it maketh a shew of red haires sprinckled among.

134 1653.  R. Sanders, Physiogn., 49. Venus Girdle is a Semicircle that begins between the fore-finger and the middle finger, and ends between the fourth finger and the little one.

135 1884.  Imp. Dict., IV. Venus’s hair-stones, Venus’s pencils, fanciful names applied to rock crystals inclosing slender hair-like or needle-like crystals of hornblende, asbestos, oxide of iron, rutile, oxide of manganese, &c.

136   b.  Bot. Venus’s basin, bath, the wild teasel, Dipsacus sylvestris; Venus’s comb, the shepherd’s needle, Scandix Pecten-Veneris; Venus’s cup, Venus’s basin; Venus’s flytrap, the North American marsh-plant Dionæa muscipula; † Venus’ garden, = Venus’s navelwort (a); † Venus’ glass, Venus’s looking-glass; Venus golden apple (see quot.); Venus’ hair, the maiden-hair, Adiantum Capillus-Veneris (see also quot. c. 1711); † Venus’ laver, Venus’s basin; Venus(’s) looking-glass, one or other of certain plants belonging to the genus Specularia, esp. S. (or Campanula) Speculum († Speculum Veneris); Venus’ navel, = next (a); Venus’s navelwort, (a) the pennywort, Cotyledon Umbilicus; (b) one or other species of annual plants belonging to the genus Omphalodes, esp. O. linifolia; † Venus needle, Venus’s comb; Venus-pear, a variety of pear mentioned by Pliny and Columella; Venus’s pride, U.S. (see quot.); Venus’s slipper, the lady’s slipper, Cypripedium Calceolus.

137 1551.  Turner, Herbal, I. O iv b. Dipsacos, called in latin labrum veneris: that is *venus basin, because it holdeth alwayes water.

138 1578.  [see below].

139 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccclxxi. 1006. Teasell is called … Carde Teasell, and Venus Bason.

140 1671.  Skinner, Venus-bason, Dipsacus vulgaris.

141 1763.  Stukeley, Palæogr. Sacra, 25. Ladys fingers, ladys traces, ladys linnen, Venus glass, Venus bason,… etc.

142 1863.  Prior, Plant-n., Venus Bason, Veneris labrum, so named … from the hollows formed by the united bases of the leaves being usually filled with water, that was used … to remove warts and freckles.

143 1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 522. Called in … Englishe, Fullers Teasel, Carde Thistell, and *Venus bath or Bason.

144 1855.  Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., III. 169. Wild Teazel … is still often called Venus’s Bath.

145 1866.  Treas. Bot., 1208/1. Venus’ bath, Dipsacus sylvestris: so named from water collecting in the connate bases of the opposite leaves.

146 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccc. 884. Pecten Veneris, siue Scandix, Shepheards Needle, or *Venus combe.

147 1671.  Skinner, Venus-Comb.

148 1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Scandyx, venus comb…. The flower is of the rosaceous kind, consisting of several petals, which are arranged in a circular order on a cup.

149 1785.  Martyn, Lett. Bot., xvii. (1794), 238. Venus’s-comb is remarkable for long processes or beaks terminating the seeds.

150 1863.  Prior, Plant-n., Venus’ Comb, from the slender tapering beaks of the seed-vessels being set together like the teeth of a comb.

151 1855.  Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., III. 69. Wild Teazel … is still often called … *Venus’s Cup.

152 1775.  Ann. Reg., II. 93. A Description of a newly discovered Sensitive Plant, called Dionæa Muscipula, or *Venus’s Fly-trap.

153 1857.  A. Gray, First Less. Bot. (1866), 171. The Venus’s Fly-trap … growing where it is always sure of all the food a plant can need.

154 1867.  H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., vii. (1870), 148. The leaf of the Venus’ fly-trap of North America, closing together on its prey by turning on its mid-rib as on a hinge.

155 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cxliii. 424. Nauelwort is called … of some Hortus Veneris, or *Venus garden.

156 1611.  Cotgr., Nombril de Venus,… Wall Penniwort, Venus garden, Hipwort.

157 1728.  Bradley, Dict. Bot., II. s.v., *Venus Glass,… Speculum veneris sive Viola Pentagona.

158 1763.  [see Venus basin].

159 1888.  Nicholson’s Dict. Gard., IV. *Venus’ Golden Apple, a common name for Atalantia monophylla.

160 1548.  Turner, Names Herbes (E.D.S.), 9. *Venus heir is in a meane tempre betwene hote & colde.

161 1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 409. Venus heare groweth in walles, and in stony shadowy places.

162 1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 450. Leaves, of venus-haire, and lungwort.

163 c. 1711.  Petiver, Gazophyl., VI. liv. Round leaved Malabar Venus-hair…. Its large notch’d Leaves on single Stalks, distinguish it from others.

164 1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, s.v., Venus’-hair, the Adiantum capillus-Veneris, given as an expectorant, and forming the basis of the celebrated syrup of capillaire.

165 1601.  Holland, Pliny, II. 376. The little grub or worme which is found in the hearbe Tazill, called *Venus Laver.

166 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. civ. 356. Speculum Veneris, *Venus Looking glasse … groweth in ploughed fields among the corne.

167 1681.  Grew, Musæum, II. iii. iii. 234. The Seed of Venus Looking-Glass.

168 a. 1689.  Mrs. Behn, trans. Cowley’s Plants, C.’s Wks. 1711, III. 372. But say Corn-Violet, why thou dost claim Of Venus Looking-Glass the pompous Name.

169 1785.  Martyn, Lett. Bot., xvi. (1794), 189. Venus’s Looking-glass is a Campanula, with a weak, low, and very branching stalk.

170 1863.  Prior, Plant-n., Venus’ Looking-Glass, from the resemblance of its flowers set upon their cylindrical ovary to an ancient round mirror at the end of a straight handle.

171 1592.  R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 24 b. With other murall and wall weeds comming out of the chinkes as … *Venus Navill.

172 1625.  B. Jonson, Pan’s Annivers., Wks. (Rtldg.), 643/1. Bring … Bright crown imperial, kingspear, holyhocks, Sweet Venus-navel.

173 1678.  Phillips (ed. 4), *Venus Navelwort,… Plant of Venus, esteemed of great use;… otherwise called Wall Penywort, and Kidneywort.

174 1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Omphalodes, Low Vernal Venus Navel-wort, with a Comfry-leaf, or Lesser Borage.

175 1767.  Abercrombie, Ev. Man his own Gardener (1803), 104. Hardy Annual Flower-seeds:… Lobel’s catch-fly, Venus’ navel-wort, dwarf poppy.

176 1866.  Treas. Bot., 812/1. Omphalodes;… several species are grown in English gardens, under the name of Venus’s Navelwort.

177 1882.  Garden, 10 June, 411/3. Small bouquets of pink Brier Roses with Venus’s Navelwort.

178 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccc. 884. Scandix,… Venus Coombe, or *Venus Needle.

179 1648.  Hexham, II. App., Venus-peere, a *Venus-peere.

180 1879.  Lewis & Short, Lat. Dict., Vinerea pira, a kind of pear, Venus-pear.

181 1845–50.  Mrs. Lincoln, Lect. Bot., 143. The Houstonia cærulea … is known by different common names; as Innocence, *Venus’s Pride, and Blue Houstonia.

182 1785.  Martyn, Lett. Bot., xxvii. (1794), 423. It has more resemblance to a wooden shoe in form, and therefore is unworthy the title of *Venus’s Slipper, which Linnæus has bestowed upon it.

183   c.  Zool. Venus-basket, Venus’s flower-basket; Venus(’s) comb, Venus’s cup (see quots.); Venus’s ear, a sea-ear or ear-shell; Venus’s fan, a sea-fan, esp. Rhipodogorgia (Gorgonia) flabellum; Venus’s flower-basket, a glass-sponge of the genus Euplectella, esp. E. aspergillum; Venus’s girdle (see quots.); † Venus purr (see quot. and PURR sb.2); Venus’ purse, Venus’s flower-basket (Funk’s Stand. Dict., 1895); Venus-shell, a bivalve mollusk belonging to the family Veneridæ or related species; a venus, murex or cowry; Venus’s slipper (see quot.); † Venus-winkle (see quots. and cf. PORCELAIN 3).

184 1882.  Cassell’s Nat. Hist., VI. 318. In some the form is constant and characteristic, as in the fairy-like *Venus-basket (Euplectella).

185 1842.  Penny Cycl., XXII. 54/2. Murex Tribulus, Linn…. This is the *Venus’s Comb of collectors, and when perfect is a most delicate and striking shell.

186 1864.  Chambers’s Encycl., VI. 616/2. The Venus Comb of the Indian seas is … a very … beautiful shell, with many long thin spines.

187 1885.  Lady Brassey, The Trades, 312. There were … grey sponges, sometimes called *Venus’s cups,—in shape not unlike coral Neptune’s cups.

188 1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xxxiv. They fell to gathering shells … like children,… Trochuses,… and *‘Venus-ears,’ scarlet outside.

189 1880.  Miss Bird, Japan, II. 87. One urn and a large covered bowl are beautifully inlaid with Venus’ ear.

190 1855.  Kingsley, Glaucus, 33. The great stony *Venus’s fan which hangs in seamen’s cottages, brought home from the West Indies.

191 1860.  Worcester (citing Baird), Venus’s Fan,… the common name of much branched and reticulated polypes of the family Gorgoniæ.

192 1872.  Good Words, 703. One of the most beautiful of all natural productions, the Euplectella, or *‘Venus’s Flower-basket.’

193 1896.  trans. Boas’ Text Bk. Zool., 121. The beautiful Philippine Venus’s Flower-Basket (Euplectella aspergillum), which like several of its allies, lives at considerable depths.

194 1870.  Nicholson, Man. Zool., xvi. I. 114. In Cestum, or *Venus’ Girdle, ‘elongation takes place to an extraordinary extent.’

195 1896.  trans. Boas’ Text Bk. Zool., 118. Cestus veneris (Venus’s girdle), with body much compressed and elongated to a ligamentous form.

196 1793.  Petiver, Aquat. Anim. Amboinæ, Tab. 18/12. Purra Venerea,… White *Venus Pur.

197 1589.  Rider, Bibl. Schol., 1723. A sea snaile, or *Venus shell, cochlea Veneris.

198 1615.  trans. De Monfart’s Surv. E. Indies, 31. Their Venus-shells consist of certaine kind of earth or clay which hath remaind a 100 yeares in one place.

199 1666.  J. Davies, trans. Rochefort’s Caribby Isles, 121. The Venus-shells may justly be numbred among the rarest productions of the Sea.

200 1681.  Grew, Musæum, I. vi. i. 137. Venus-Shell. Concha Veneris. Because beautiful.

201 1872.  A. Domett, Ranolf, VI. ii. 112. Exact as roseate streak for streak Some opened Venus-shell displays.

202 1836.  Penny Cycl., VI. 294/1. The shells of this genus [sc. Carinaria] were formerly known to collectors under the name of *‘Venus’s Slipper’ and ‘Glass Nautilus.’

203 1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 253. The Porcellanes or *Venus Winkles swimme above the water, and with their concavitie and hollow part which they set into the weather, helpe themselves in stead of sailes.

204 1611.  Florio, Veneria, a Scallop called a Purcelane or Venus-winkle.

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