Meaning of devil's fingers | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A starfish, especially Asterias rubens.
   archaic, plural, plural-normally, rare
2. The gills of various species of crabs.
   US, informal, plural, plural-normally
3. A fungus, Clathrus archeri, featuring pink or white 'arms' erupting from a white ball-like body, with a putrid odor.
   plural, plural-normally

Examples

“In Ireland, and elsewhere, there exists a common species of starfish known as the “devil’s hands,” or the “devil’s fingers,” and children have a superstitious dread of touching them.”

“Its peculiar shape has gained the starfish many names even round the coasts of Great Britain, such as “crossfish,” “sunfish,” “old five fingers,” “five-fingered Jack,” “cramps,” and “devil’s hand” or “devil’s fingers.””

“I removed the underside of the crab called its apron. I opened it up and removed the gills or “devil’s fingers.” And I removed its eyes and mouth.”

“Next, remove the apron from the underside of the crab. Finally, Curtis says, you’ll need to lift up each side of the shell and remove the gills or the “devil’s fingers.””

“Once the shell is off, the crab’s gills or lungs, variously called “devil’s fingers” or “dead men” are exposed. These are gray-white, feathery-looking parts that are inedible and must be scraped off and thrown away.”

“In North America, and increasingly in gardens in southern England, the bizarre Devil’s Fingers, Clathrus archeri, is enlivening our autumns. The first sign of it is usually a horrible stink like rotten meat. A little poking around in the shrubbery should reveal its science fiction-like body, resembling slimy scarlet tentacles emerging from a half-buried egg.”

“Specimens of the aptly named devil’s fingers and the coral-like hazel gloves were spotted nestling in the undergrowth at Devon Wildlife Trust sites.”

““Devil’s fingers”, also known as Clathrus Archeri, were first spotted in the UK in 1914, and tend to favour moist and shaded areas of wood chips.”

CEFR level