fleur-de-lys

American  

[flur-dl-ee, -ees, floor-, flœr-duh-lees] / ˌflɜr dlˈi, -ˈis, ˌflʊər-, flœr dəˈlis /

noun

PLURAL

fleurs-de-lys

1. fleur-de-lis.

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fleur-de-lys British  

/ ˌflɜːdəˈliː /

noun

1. heraldry a charge representing a lily with three distinct petals

2. another name for iris

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Etymology

Origin of fleur-de-lys

C19: from Old French flor de lis , literally: lily flower

Example Sentences

The house of Anjou is promoted through its heraldry; the fleur-de-lys symbolises a resurgent France in its battles with the English.

From The Guardian

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also revealed their royal monogram, which features an intertwining cursive "H" and "M" under a fleur-de-lys crown, prior to their wedding.

From Fox News

Prior to Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle, the couple revealed their royal monogram which features an intertwining cursive "H" and "M" under a fleur-de-lys crown.

From Fox News

A major lesson is the central place of maize, usually represented by a vertical ear with two leaves falling to the side, a talismanic symbol reminiscent of a fleur-de-lys.

From Literature

The flowered cross is one whose limbs end in fleur-de-lys, which spring sometimes from a knop or bud but more frequently issue from the square ends of a cross of the “formy” type.

From Project Gutenberg