fairy ring

noun

1. any of numerous mushrooms of meadows and open woods, especially the well-known Marasmius oreades, that spread in rings originating from mycelial growth: formerly supposed to mark the paths laid by dancing fairies.

fairy ring

noun

1. a ring of dark luxuriant vegetation in grassy ground corresponding to the edge of an underground fungal mycelium: popularly associated with the dancing of fairies: seasonally marked by a ring of mushrooms
2. short for fairy ring mushroom, Marasmius oreades , a dainty buff-coloured edible basidiomycetous fungus, characteristically forming rings in grassland

Word History and Origins

Origin of fairy ring¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

In this way was recovered, after the expiration of a year and a day, a youth who had wandered into a fairy-ring.

From Project Gutenberg

And evermore the circling hoursNew gifts of glory bring; We live and love like happy flowers,All in our fairy ring.

From Project Gutenberg

The commonest fairy-ring fungus is Marasmius oreades, the fairy-ring champignon.

From Project Gutenberg

This is a fairy ring of another type, and represents a very slow mode of travel.

From Project Gutenberg

Cedric entered alone, and found the fairy ring far beyond anything he could have dreamed of.

From Project Gutenberg