[f. as prec. + RING.] A circular band of grass differing in color from the grass around it, a phenomenon supposed in popular belief to be produced by fairies when dancing; really caused by the growth of certain fungi.

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1599.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., Epil.

        Let … turtle-footed peace dance fayrie rings
About her court.

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1698.  Norris, Pract. Disc. (1707), IV. 222. We tread the same Fairy-ring.

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1791.  E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. 36.

        So from dark clouds the playful lightning springs,
Rives the firm oak, or prints the Fairy-rings.

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1832.  Veg. Subst. Food, 328. The ‘fairy rings,’ which are found chiefly upon dry downs, and which are circles perfectly regular when the surface is uniform.

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1875.  in Parish, Sussex Gloss.

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  b.  attrib. in fairy-ring-champignon, etc.

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1884.  Miller, Plant-n., Fairy-ring Champignon, see Champignon. Ibid., Mushroom, fairy-ring. Marasmius oreades and M. urens.

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