star jelly

star jelly
Nostoc Nos"toc, prop. n. [F.] (Bot.) A genus of alg[ae]. The plants are composed of moniliform cells imbedded in a gelatinous substance. [1913 Webster]

Note: {Nostoc commune} is found on the ground, and is ordinarily not seen; but after a rain it swells up into a conspicuous jellylike mass, which was formerly supposed to have fallen from the sky, whence the popular names, {fallen star} and {star jelly}. Also called {witches' butter}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Star jelly — Star jelly, or pwdre sêr, is an alleged compound purportedly deposited on the earth during meteor showers. It is described as a foul smelling, gelatinous substance, which tends to evaporate shortly after having fallen.There have been reports of… …   Wikipedia

  • Star jelly — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • star jelly — noun Etymology: so called from a popular belief that the gelatinous colonies fall from the stars : any of several algae that form gelatinous colonies; especially : any of various algae of the genus Nostoc (especially N. commune) that tend to form …   Useful english dictionary

  • Star — (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron, Skr. star;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Star anise — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Star apple — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Star conner — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Star coral — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Star cucumber — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Star flower — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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