silver bell

noun

1. any North American shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Halesia, of the storax family, having toothed leaves and drooping white, bell-shaped flowers.

silver bell

noun

1. any of various deciduous trees of the styracaceous genus Halesia, esp H. carolina, of North America and China, having white bell-shaped flowers Also calledsnowdrop tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of silver bell¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

It’s possible that somewhere in Rock Creek Park there rests the skeleton of a foreign squirrel, a little silver bell on a ribbon around its neck.

From Washington Post

Even here the glorious voice of the prima donna floated clear as a silver bell.

From Project Gutenberg

A little silver bell, with "Katy" engraved on the handle, is among the pretty things.

From Project Gutenberg

Then a woman rang a little silver bell, and a woman who sat short but rose to unexpected heights stood up.

From Project Gutenberg

The sound of a silver bell broke in, the signal that she was in request by old Madame l'Etiquette.

From Project Gutenberg

She rings a little silver bell and when her servants come in she tells them to bring her grains of the finest wheat.

From Project Gutenberg