daffadowndilly

Or daf·fo·down·dil·ly

[daf-uh-doun-dil-ee]

noun

Chiefly British Dialect.

plural

daffadowndillies 

1. daffodil.

Word History and Origins

Origin of daffadowndilly¹

First recorded in 1565–75; by alteration

Example Sentences

Of all English plants there have been none in such constant favour as the Daffodil, whether known by its classical name of Narcissus, or by its more popular names of Daffodil, or Daffadowndilly, and Jonquil.

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Daffadowndilly is not used by Shakespeare, but it is used by his contemporaries, as by Spenser frequently, and by H. Constable, who died in 1604— "Diaphenia, like the Daffadowndilly, White as the sun, fair as the Lilly, Heigh, ho! how I do love thee!"

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The playful elaboration daffadowndilly is as old as Spenser.

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Diaphenia like the daffadowndilly, White as the sun, fair as the lily, Heigh ho, how do I love thee!

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Now, Wealth's master hath got a daffadowndilly.

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