corn dollyn.
= kirn-baby n., a symbolic or decorative figure celebrating the harvest home.
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society > communication > representation > physical representation of abstraction > symbolizing > [noun] > a symbol > specific symbols
cross-bones1798
marrowbones1824
skull and crossbones1826
uroboros1940
corn dolly1952
1952 Sunday Times 21 Sept. 2 [Worcs.] His ‘corn dollies’ have attracted interest from museums and housewives looking for winter ‘flower’ decorations.
1967 V. Pritchard Eng. Medieval Graffiti 14 It is possible that the head was made of straw or basket-work, and interesting specimens of such work, called ‘corn-dollies’, can still be seen in some churches.
1976 M. Hunter Talent is not Enough 41 The ancient rite of shaping the last sheaf into a corn dolly to perch high on the stacked straw.
1985 Listener 21 Mar. 20/2 I realise that this is not wine, but if the growers in the South of England can provide and sell teas and corn dollies, why not juices?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1993; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.1952