Ladiesʹ Smocks

Garden cress, botanically called Cardamine, a diminutive of the Greek kardamon, called in Latin nasturtium, sometimes called Nose-smart (Kara-damõn, head-afflicting); so nasturtium is Nasi-tortium (nose-twisting), called so in consequence of its pungency.

“When ladiesʹ smocks of silver white

Do paint the meadows with delight.”

Called Ladiesʹ smocks because the flowers resemble linen exposed to whiten on the grass—“when maidens bleach their summer smocks.” There is, however, a purple tint which mars its perfect whiteness. Another name of the plant is “Cuckoo-flower,” because it comes into flower when the cuckoo sings.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.