Also 6–7 Our Ladies, 7–8 ladies’ gloves, 9 lady glove. [Orig. LADY sb. 3.] The foxglove, Digitalis purpurea. The name has been applied to several other plants, e.g., † Lungwort, Pulmonaria officinalis; Fleawort, Inula Conyza; the Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus (dial.).
1538. Elyot, Dict., Addit., Bacchar … an herbe … some do call it … our ladies gloues.
1611. Cotgr., Gantelée, the hearbe called Fox-gloues, our Ladies gloues.
1621. Beaum. & Fl., Pilgrim, V. vi. Full of pincks, and Ladies gloves [mod. edd. lady-gloves], Of hartes-ease too.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., II. iv. § 3. 80. Sage of Jerusalem, Ladies-glove [marg. Pulmonaria].
1736. Bailey, Houshold Dict., 369. Ladies Gloves. The vertues of this plant [fleawort] are to warm and dry; but it is also an opener.
1879. Britten & Holland, Plant-n., Lady glove, Digitalis purpurea. Ibid., Lady’s glove, Lotus corniculatus.
