dead-man's-fingers

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

variants: or dead-men's-fingers

Definition of dead-man's-fingers

1 : any of several European orchids (genus Orchis) having pale digitate roots (especially O. mascula, O. maculata, O. latifolia, and O. morio)

2 : any of several other plants: such as

a : bird's-foot trefoil sense 1a

c : meadow foxtail grass

3 : the fruiting bodies of fungi of the genus Xylaria (especially X. polymorpha)

4a : a fleshy alcyonarian (Alcyonium digitatum) usually lobed or digitate in form

b : a white or grayish digitately branching sponge (Chalina arbuscula) of the Atlantic coast

5 : dead man

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Dictionary Entries near dead-man's-fingers

dead-man's-fingers

dead man's float

deadman's handle

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Cite this Entry

“Dead-man's-fingers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead-man%27s-fingers. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.

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