lady's-slipper

American  

[ley-deez-slip-er] / ˈleɪ dizˌslɪp ər /

Or lady-slipper

noun

1. any orchid of the genus Cypripedium, the flowers of which have a protruding petal somewhat resembling a slipper: all species are reduced in numbers, some greatly.

2. any of several other related plants having similar flowers, as of the genera Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium.

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lady's-slipper British  

noun

1. any of various orchids of the Eurasian genus Cypripedium, esp C. calceolus, having reddish or purple flowers See also moccasin flower cypripedium

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Etymology

Origin of lady's-slipper

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

You could have knocked me down with a lady's-slipper.

From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 12 Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Scientists by Hubbard, Elbert

I was to have neither arbor nor trellis,—no sweet-scented honeysuckle clustering over an elaborate framework,—no parterre of beautiful flowers, glorious to behold, but producing no profit,—not even marigold or lady's-slipper.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 93, July, 1865 by Various

She paused at every excuse—now to watch a robin hopping, now to look at a pink lady's-slipper abloom in a bed of spleenwort, now for no reason at all.

From The Side Of The Angels A Novel by King, Basil

The English call it lady's-slipper; the Indians know it as the moccasin flower.

From Sketches in Canada, and rambles among the red men by Jameson, Mrs. (Anna)

The possessive case and its governing noun, combining to form a metaphorical name, should be written with both apostrophe and hyphen; as, Job's-tears, Jew's-ear, bear's-foot, colts-tooth, sheep's-head, crane's-bill, crab's-eyes, hound's-tongue, king's-spear, lady's-slipper, lady's-bedstraw, &c.

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold