fleur-de-lis
Americannoun
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a heraldic device somewhat resembling three petals or floral segments of an iris tied by an encircling band.
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the heraldic bearing of the royal family of France.
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the iris flower or plant.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of fleur-de-lis
1300–50; < French; replacing Middle English flourdelis < Anglo-French flour de lis, literally, lily flower
Explanation
A fleur-de-lis is a symbol that's commonly used as a decoration on flags, coats of arms, and even on buildings. The fleur-de-lis is based on the shape of a lily. In French, fleur-de-lis means "lily flower" or "flower of the iris." It's been used for centuries to represent a vast variety of things, including royalty, French cultural heritage, Christianity, light, defense, and female virtue. Its closest association is probably the French monarchy and its coats of arms — the fleur-de-lis has gone on to appear on flags, in college and sports team logos, and in many religious works of art.
Vocabulary lists containing fleur-de-lis
English Words Derived from French, List 10
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Nordiques wore their politics on their sleeves, literally, putting the Quebec flag’s fleur-de-lis on their uniforms.
From New York Times ● Jan. 6, 2024
Made of cloth of gold, it is embellished with motifs including fleur-de-lis, as well as imperial eagles, and national floral emblems of red-pink roses, blue thistles and green shamrocks.
From BBC ● May 1, 2023
But this rabbit is at least three times as big as the others, each ear sprouting straight up like the tip of a fleur-de-lis, and it seems remarkably self-possessed for a rabbit.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 29, 2022
Individual king cakes and cookies shaped like jesters, crowns and fleur-de-lis are all top picks at Pollman’s during Carnival, too.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 10, 2022
It was of azure sarsenet, hand-embroidered in gold thread with the numerous small fleur-de-lis of ancient France.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Solid gold, with its crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis, this crown is also specifically seen as a symbol of the monarchy in the United Kingdom, incorporated into various insignia and emblems.
From Salon ● May 5, 2023
The St Edward's Crown, made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines, follows its original medieval forebear in having four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis.
From Reuters ● Dec. 3, 2022
One can easily imagine exiting the snug garret, its annex fronted by fleurs-de-lis done in stained glass, and, far below, stepping into a bistro on Rue d’Argout.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2019
The sky had turned a deep blue with wispy fleurs-de-lis for clouds.
From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2013
Cerulean walls hold golden fleurs-de-lis and the princess's royal emblem.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
