gillyflower

gillyflower
/jil"ee flow'euhr/, n.
1. Archaic. any of several fragrant flowers of the genus Dianthus, as the carnation or clove pink.
2. any of various other usually fragrant flowers, esp. a stock, Matthiola incana, of the mustard family.
[1300-50; alter. (by association with FLOWER) of ME gilofre, geraflour < OF gilofre, girofle < L caryophyllum < Gk karyóphyllon clove (káryo(n) nut + phýllon leaf)]

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▪ plant
also spelled  gilliflower 

      any of several scented flowering plants, especially the carnation, or clove pink (Dianthus caryophyllus), stock (Matthiola incana), and wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri). However, the gillyflower of Chaucer, Spenser, and Shakespeare was the carnation. Other plants that are types of gillyflower are dame's gillyflower, also known as dame's violet (Hesperis matronalis); mock gillyflower, also known as soapwort or bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis); feathered gillyflower, also known as the grass or garden pink (Dianthus plumarius); and sea gillyflower, also known as the thrift or sea pink (Armeria maritima).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gillyflower — Gil ly*flow er, n. [OE. gilofre, gilofer, clove, OF. girofre, girofle, F. girofle: cf. F. girofl[ e]e gillyflower, fr. girofle, Gr. ? clove tree; ? nut + ? leaf, akin to E. foliage. Cf. {Caryophyllus}, {July flower}.] [Written also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gillyflower — 1550s, folk etymology spelling (by association of flower) of gilofre, originally clove, c.1300, from O.Fr. girofle clove, ultimately from Gk. karyophyllon clove, nut leaf, dried flower bud of clove tree, from karyon nut + phyllon leaf (see FOLIO… …   Etymology dictionary

  • gillyflower — (also gilliflower) ► NOUN ▪ any of a number of fragrant flowers, such as the wallflower or white stock. ORIGIN Old French gilofre, girofle, from Greek karuophullon, from karuon nut + phullon leaf …   English terms dictionary

  • gillyflower — /ˈdʒɪliflaʊə/ (say jileeflowuh) noun 1. any of various fragrant flowers, as for example the wallflower, Cheiranthus cheiri, the common stock gillyflower, Matthiola incana, etc. 2. Obsolete the clove pink. See pink1 (def. 2). Also, gilliflower.… …  

  • gillyflower — pilkoji leukonija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Bastutinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Matthiola incana), paplitęs Viduržemio jūros srityje. atitikmenys: lot. Matthiola incana angl. Brompton stock; common stock; gillyflower; Guernsey… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • gillyflower — geltonžiedė smalka statusas T sritis vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Cheiranthus cheiri angl. common wallflower; gillyflower; wallflower vok. echter Goldlack; gemeiner Goldlack rus. желтофиоль садовая; лакфиоль обыкновенная lenk. lak pachnący; lak… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • gillyflower — n. 1 (in full clove gillyflower) a clove scented pink (see CLOVE(1) 2). 2 any of various similarly scented flowers such as the wallflower or white stock. Etymology: ME gilofre, gerofle f. OF gilofre, girofle, f. med.L f. Gk karuophullon clove… …   Useful english dictionary

  • gillyflower — noun Etymology: by folk etymology from Middle English gilofre clove, from Anglo French, alteration of Old French girofle, from Latin caryophyllum, from Greek karyophyllon, from karyon nut + phyllon leaf more at careen, blade Date: 1551 carnation… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • gillyflower — noun /ˈdʒɪl.ɪˌflaʊə,ˈdʒɪl.iˌflaʊɚ,ˈɡɪl.iˌflaʊɚ/ a) A carnation (flower of the genus Dianthus). b) Any clove scented flower. Syn: carnation, pink …   Wiktionary

  • gillyflower — see CLOVE …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

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