Low-bellNight-fowling, in which birds are first roused from their slumber by the tinkling of a bell; and then dazzled by a light so as to be easily caught. (Low, Scotch, lowe, a flame, as a “lowe of fyre;” and bell.) “The sound of the low-bell makes the birds lie close, so that they dare not stir whilst you are pitching the net, for the sound thereof is dreadful to them; but the sight of the fire, much more terrible, makes them fly up, so that they become instantly entangled in the net.” —Gent. Recreation. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Low-bell from Infoplease:
|
24 X 7Private Tutor
Explore Statistics Help , Fractions
|
Atlas
Encyclopedia
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Day in History
