[See BELL sb.1 4; app. the full name was fancifully associated with the small bells worn on their horses by the pilgrims in pre-Reformation times, and often mentioned in the 16th c. (See Britten and Holland.)]
A flowering plant of the genus Campanula; originally applied to the native species C. Trachelium, the Nettle-leaved Bellflower or Throatwort; but in later times erroneously transferred to the cultivated exotic C. Medium, called in the 16th c. Coventry Bells or Marian’s Violet. More loosely, the name has been applied to the Giant Bell-flower, C. latifolia, and perhaps to other species. (Until the 19th cent. always Bells.)
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. xx. 170. Of Canterbury Belles or Haskewurte. Ibid., 172. In English they be called Belfloures, and of some Canterbury Belles.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, 163 (Britten & Holl., 87). Of some about London Canterbury bels, but improperly, for that there is another kind of bell flower growing in Kent, about Canterbury, which may more fitly be called Canterburie bels, bicause they grow there more plentifully than in any other countrie.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. iv. § 60. The Canterbury Bells have large rough leaves like Nettles.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. iii. 357. Towards the End of this Month, sow … Canterbury-bells.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 134. The wild stalking Canterbury bell, By hedge-row side.
1861. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., III. 338–9. Giant Bell-flower … often called Canterbury-bell.
1882. Garden, 1 July, 12/2. A collection of Canterbury Bells.
¶ Formerly Lady’s Smock, Cardamine pratensis.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, 203. They are commonly called in Latine, Flos Cuculi; in English Cuckowe flowers; in Northfolke Caunterburie bels; at the Namptwich in Cheshire, where I had my beginning, Ladie Smocks.
