Lexic.us

Definition of Gillyflower

1. Noun. Any of several Old World plants cultivated for their brightly colored flowers.

2. Noun. Eurasian plant with pink to purple-red spice-scented usually double flowers; widely cultivated in many varieties and many colors.

Definition of Gillyflower

1. n. A name given by old writers to the clove pink (Dianthus Caryophyllus) but now to the common stock (Matthiola incana), a cruciferous plant with showy and fragrant blossoms, usually purplish, but often pink or white.

Definition of Gillyflower

1. Noun. clove pink ¹

2. Noun. Any clove-scented flower. ¹

3. Noun. A variety of apple. ¹

4. Noun. (heraldiccharge) A stylized representation of a carnation blossom, usually red, and shown with or without a slip and leaves. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Gillyflower

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Gillyflower

1. 1. A name given by old writers to the clove pink (Dianthus Caryophyllus) but now to the common stock (Matthiola incana), a cruciferous plant with showy and fragrant blossoms, usually purplish, but often pink or white. 2. A kind of apple, of a roundish conical shape, purplish red colour, and having a large core. Alternative forms: gilliflower] Clove gillflower, the clove pink. Marsh gillyflower, the ragged robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi). Queen's, or Winter, gillyflower, damewort. Sea gillyflower, the thrift (Armeria vulgaris). Wall gillyflower, the wallflower (Cheiranthus Cheiri). Water gillyflower, the water violet. Origin: OE. Gilofre, gilofer, clove, OF. Girofre, girofle, F. Girofle: cf. F. Giroflee gillyflower, fr. Girofle, Gr. Clove tree; nut + leaf, akin to E. Foliage. Cf. Caryophyllus, July-flower. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Gillyflower

gilling gillion gillions gillless gillnet gillnets gillnetted gillnetter gillnetters gillnetting

gills gillulyite gilly gilly-flower gilly-flowers gillyflower (current term) gillyflowers gillying gillyvor gillyvors

gilmarite gilour gilours gilpey gilpeys gilpies gilpy gilravage gilse gilses

Literary usage of Gillyflower

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Victorian Anthology, 1837-1895: Selections Illustrating the Editor's by Edmund Clarence Stedman (1895)
"Right in my ears again, and shew The gillyflower blossom'd new. ... Until I thought of your dear head, Bow'd to the gillyflower bed, The yellow flowers ..."

2. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language by William Dwight Whitney (1889)
"See gillyflower. Gil lie wbite-foot, or gillie wet-foot, formerly, in Scotland, a running footman who had to carry his master over brooks and watery places ..."

3. The Lady's Book of Flowers and Poetry: To which are Added, a Botanical edited by Lucy Hooper (1842)
"THE STOCK, OR gillyflower. LASTING beauty is represented by this flower whose charms, although less ... FAIR is the gillyflower of gardens sweet. GAY. ..."

4. The American Quarterly Review by Robert Walsh (1837)
"London: Matthew gillyflower, at the Spread Eagle in Westminster Hall, and James Partridge, Charing Cross: 1793. Tillage is an art of great antiquity, ..."

5. Flora historica: or, The three seasons of the British parterre historically by Henry Phillips (1829)
"STOCK, OR gillyflower. ... The name of gillyflower was also common to several plants, as the Wall gillyflower and the ..."

6. Letters of Celia Thaxter by Celia Thaxter (1895)
"All mother's beloved plants I have and watch and tend on the piazza. Here is a crimson gillyflower which never blossomed for her, dear soul! ..."

7. Ainsworth's Magazine: A Miscellany of Romance, General Literature, & Art by William Harrison Ainsworth, George Cruikshank, Hablot Knight Browne (1844)
"Now, all you fair ladies, take warning hy this— gillyflower, gentle rosemary— And never refuse your young lovers a kiss, While the dew falls over the ..."

8. A Selection from the Great English Poets: With an Essay on the Reading of edited by Sherwin Cody (1905)
"... I almost saw your quiet head Bow'd o'er the gillyflower bed, The yellow flowers stain'd with red, — Hah! hah! la belle jaune ..."

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