phttnix dactylifera
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The date-palm; so called because of the ancient idea that this tree, if burnt down or if it falls through old age, will rejuvenate itself and spring up fairer than ever.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “phttnix dactylifera” mean?
The date-palm; so called because of the ancient idea that this tree, if burnt down or if it falls through old age, will rejuvenate itself and spring up fairer than ever.
Is “phttnix dactylifera” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.