The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (422 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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PARSLEY seed goes nine times to the Devil
1658
in &
Wit Restored
35
There is a saying in the North Riding of Yorkshire that The weed [parsley] before it's borne Nine times the devill sees.
1885
Notes & Queries
6th Ser. XI. 467
Parsley seed (when it has been sown) goes nine times to the devil.
1908
Letter
4 May (1962) I. 7
People say parsley seed goes seven times (some are moderate, discarding the holy number as unfit, and say five) to the Old Lad, it is so long a-germinating.
1981
in
Dillen
xiv.
It's a queer plant, parsley: ‘sow on Good Friday, seven times down to Hell afore it chits [sprouts (dialect)].’
garden lore
;
superstition

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