Meaning of fairmaid | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A mermaid from a blackwater creek or river.
2. A smoked or salted pilchard.
3. Synonym of snowdrop.
   often

Examples

“I go down to the punt-trench and I beg⟳ the water people. Help⟳ me, I say⟳. I throw⟳ eggs — fresh eggs — in the black water. It was to feed⟳ the fairmaids.”

“The only trouble⟳ was that he had to pass⟳ a koker, and people said that at night when everyone was asleep and the moon had gone in, the fairmaids came out to sit⟳ on the koker to comb their long hair.”

“Traditionally, fairmaids transform⟳ mediocrity into genius. Goodison's female persona presents a facade of hesitancy; she appears to negate her powers: "It is difficult at first, learning to breathe⟳ below water / to convert the lungs meant only for inhalation on earth"”

“Fairmaid is a soft pink flower, very pleasing.”

“...fairmaids of February, white ladies and Candlemas bells, which surely deserved a hearing.”

“These February fairmaids, closely linked with ancient church traditions, still grow⟳ naturally in profusion at many monastic sites.”

“Many, many welcomes, February fairmaid!”

“The low prices which fish⟳ have⟳ been bringing of late years is a serious matter⟳ for those who prosecute the fisheries to look⟳ in the face⟳. Has the taste⟳ for fairmaids died out with the Italians, or are they being supplied from other countries ?”

“At present⟳ the only method applicable to large quantities of fish⟳ taken at one time, is that which translates the silvery, savoury little fishes into intensely salt ' fairmaids.' So saturated do these ' fairmaids ' become⟳ by the salt or brine in which they have⟳ been placed, that English eaters incontinently 'take⟳ to drink⟳,' generously suggest⟳ their shipment to a Mediterranean port, and endeavor to restore⟳ the freshness to their mouths by a meal of red herrings.”

“Now the salted pilchards, known as fairmaids, were washed in a kieve, or huge wooden tray having a grating in the bottom through which the fish⟳ scales could drop.”

“Life is good for Mowzer. Tom feeds her morgy-broth, kedgeree, grilled fairmaids, and star-gazy pie.”

CEFR level