silver bell

American  

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.

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silver bell British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of silver bell

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

He balanced a sparkly silver bell bottom jumpsuit with a grey overcoat that hung off the shoulders.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

As Mr. Shareef’s songs reach a climax, a bartender, John Grecsek, rings a mounted silver bell in clangorous approval.

From New York Times • Oct. 30, 2018

In Decatur, Georgia, a silver bell gets rung if anyone in the group of mainly suburban moms starts speaking off-topic during their monthly get-togethers.

From The Guardian • Mar. 18, 2017

In his "Chronicles: Volume One" memoir, Dylan recalled that Vee "had a metallic, edgy tone to his voice and it was as musical as a silver bell."

From US News • Oct. 24, 2016

Sometimes she had asthma attacks and would summon her granddaughter with a tiny silver bell she always carried on her person.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende