devil's fingers

Definitions

1. 1

   A starfish, especially Asterias rubens.

   • In Ireland, and elsewhere, there exists a common species of starfish known as the “devil’s hands,” or the “devil’s fingers,” and children have a superstitious dread of touching them.
   • Its peculiar shape has gained the starfish many names even round the coasts of Great Britain, such as “crossfish,” “sunfish,” “old five fingers,” “five-fingered Jack,” “cramps,” and “devil’s hand” or “devil’s fingers.”
2. 2

   The gills of various species of crabs.

   • I removed the underside of the crab called its apron. I opened it up and removed the gills or “devil’s fingers.” And I removed its eyes and mouth.
   • Next, remove the apron from the underside of the crab. Finally, Curtis says, you’ll need to lift up each side of the shell and remove the gills or the “devil’s fingers.”
   • Once the shell is off, the crab’s gills or lungs, variously called “devil’s fingers” or “dead men” are exposed. These are gray-white, feathery-looking parts that are inedible and must be scraped off and thrown away.
3. 3

   A fungus, Clathrus archeri, featuring pink or white 'arms' erupting from a white…

   A fungus, Clathrus archeri, featuring pink or white 'arms' erupting from a white ball-like body, with a putrid odor.

   • Specimens of the aptly named devil’s fingers and the coral-like hazel gloves were spotted nestling in the undergrowth at Devon Wildlife Trust sites.
   • “Devil’s fingers”, also known as Clathrus Archeri, were first spotted in the UK in 1914, and tend to favour moist and shaded areas of wood chips.
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   1. 4

      plural of devil's finger (“cephalopod of the order Belemnitida”)

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