thistle-down

In the Chopiniana scene there is nothing to remind one of the coquetry of the doll in the lovely spirit-like creature who seems to drift on the air like a thistle-down.

Further Pavlova 2009

In the Chopiniana scene there is nothing to remind one of the coquetry of the doll in the lovely spirit-like creature who seems to drift on the air like a thistle-down.

Archive 2009-05-01 2009

“They are too slight and unsolid pledges, my lord,” said the Queen; “add at least a handful of thistle-down to give them weight in the balance.”

The Abbot 2008

The majority of the people are too ignorant to know the value of a book and they regard poetry as the thistle-down of speech.

Oscar Wilde, His Life and Confessions 2007

“If it were not for this thistle-down —” began the leader.

Twelve Stories and a Dream, by H. G. Wells Herbert George 2006

And then he saw first one and then a second great white ball, a great shining white ball like a gigantic head of thistle-down, that drove before the wind athwart the path.

Twelve Stories and a Dream, by H. G. Wells Herbert George 2006

And thick and fast as thistle-down on waste land on a windy day in July, the cobweb masses were coming on.

Twelve Stories and a Dream, by H. G. Wells Herbert George 2006

Jonathan Strange is perhaps a little slow on the uptake in realising that he has a powerful enemy the man with the thistle-down hair.

Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Michael Allen 2005

It may be that in the distance a fish describes an arc of three or four feet in the air, and there is one bright flash where it emerges, and another where it strikes the water; sometimes the whole silvery arc is revealed; or here and there, perhaps, is a thistle-down floating on its surface, which the fishes dart at and so dimple it again.

Walden 2004

Something drew us back, back with an incredible swiftness, and yet as gently as a summer breeze sweeps a bit of thistle-down!

The Moon Pool 2004