painted cup

noun

1. any of several semiparasitic plants of the genus Castilleja, of the figwort family, having highly colored dilated bracts about the flowers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of painted cup¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

I sat at the head of the last table, drank yellow wine out of a painted cup and ate half a swine all by myself.

From Project Gutenberg

For who e'er drank without alloy, From the painted cup of joy?

From Project Gutenberg

The bright flame of the painted cup and the purple of the asters still lighted up the aisles of the pines in sheltered places.

From Project Gutenberg

Red Feather is also good but Painted Cup is rather poor, as there is nothing cup-like about the flower.

From Project Gutenberg

She drinks out of a painted cup of birch-bark, and neither more nor less than the quantity it holds.

From Project Gutenberg