devil's-bit

[ dev-uhlz-bit ]

/ ˈdɛv əlzˌbɪt /

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noun

an eastern North American plant, Chamaelirium luteum, of the lily family, having a dense, drooping spike of small white flowers.

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Also called fairy wand.

Origin of devil's-bit

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use devil's-bit in a sentence

In a bit of foreshadowing, he repeated that opinion in November.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Even the hot Jewish women I mentioned above did something a bit more “intellectual” than pageantry: acting.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His peers remember him as a bright man who spoke softly and occasionally came across as a bit shy.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She narrowed her eyes, bit her lip as if to chew over the question, and whisked some stray blond hairs away from her face.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

It reminded me a bit of an alternative take on The Wolf of Wall Street—through the Toni and Candace lens.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Thus was the man left entirely to the devil, not even his life being reserved, as in the case of Job.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
He desired his secretary to go to the devil, but, thinking better of it, he recalled him as he reached the door.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
After a bit of waiting, Mac decided that the smoke was floating from a certain direction, and we began to edge carefully that way.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
The sudden pall of darkness in this strange house of mystery was just a tiny bit awesome.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
Things looked anxious for a bit, but by this morning's dawn all are dug in, cool, confident.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for devil's-bit

devil's bit

noun

devil's bit scabiousSee scabious 2 (def. 3)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012