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

Word History and Origins

Origin of silver bell¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85