fairy ring

n. a naturally occurring ground circle caused by fungi or other biological agents; figuratively, a fanciful ring or circle of mystical or unusual behavior or action. Subjects: English, Biology, Environment

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Citations: 1844 Ohio Repository (Canton) (Jan. 11) “The Paradise of Contentment” p. 1: The rosy horizon beyond which youth cannot see—the gay rainbow that overarches fancy’s landscape—the halo that genius spreads around the barren pathway of existence—the green and fairy ring encircling over the beloved! 1855 New York Daily Times (2) (Oct. 25) “The Newcombes”: Our poor friend the Colonel, disappointed in his first scheme, hopefully blesses the union, and prays once more for that domestic happiness which he fondly believes can only be found within the fairy ring of home. 1872 New York Times (Mar. 3) “Fairy Rings” p. 2: Everyone who is accustomed to the country knows a “fairy ring” when he sees it. Each ring is only a belt of grass of a much darker green than that surrounding it.…If the grass of these “fairy rings” be examined in the Spring and early Summer, it will be found to conceal a number of agarics or “toadstools.” 1984 Richard A. Kerr Science (Feb. 10) “Why are there any nodules at all?” vol. 233, p. 577: Some sediment dweller has built its mound hard against a nodule. And on the left is a “fairy ring” of unknown origin that seems to be slipping and perhaps rolling nodules into its moat. 1984 Globe and Mail (Toronto, Can.) (May 26) “The price of success in the lawn care trade” (in Plainview, N.Y.): Property values, neighborhood competition and the challenge of nature aside, the suburban pysche will not rest while the hairy chinch bug and the fairy ring fungus are at work. 1990 Leo Schofield Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (May 22) “Cholesterol People, Beware” p. 3: For a minute there we thought some radical new accompaniment might break the spell of this fairy ring of cloned presentations. 2004 Joe Rigney Santa Cruz Sentinel (California) (July 22) “Redwood’s amazing biology makes them survivors”: Evidence of logging is best visualized by the way redwoods grow in rings, sometimes referred to as “fairy rings.” These are caused by the resprouts that grow around a stump. You can get a sense of how big the original tree was by measuring the inside of the fairy ring.

Posted 25 Jul 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend