fleur-de-lis

[flur-dl-ee, -ees, floo r-; French flœr-duh-lees]

noun, plural fleurs-de-lis [flur-dl-eez, floo r-; French flœr-duh-lees] /ˌflɜr dlˈiz, ˌflʊər-; French flœr dəˈlis/.

a heraldic device somewhat resembling three petals or floral segments of an iris tied by an encircling band.

the heraldic bearing of the royal family of France.

the iris flower or plant.

Also fleur-de-lys (for defs 1, 2).

Origin of fleur-de-lis

1300–50; < French; replacing Middle English flourdelis < Anglo-French flour de lis, literally, lily flower

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fleur-de-lis

Historical Examples of fleur-de-lis

The scout badge is not intended to represent the fleur-de-lis, or an arrowhead.
Boy Scouts Handbook
Boy Scouts of America
Bigot's letters by the Fleur-de-Lis were calculated to alarm him.
The Golden Dog
William Kirby
It is often seen in the conventional form of the fleur-de-lis.
The Worship of the Church
Jacob A. Regester
It was further decorated with a border of fleur-de-lis in seed pearls.
Anthony Trent, Master Criminal
Wyndham Martyn
The Iris is the Fleur-de-lis of France, which was for long the royal emblem.
Flowers of Mountain and Plain
Edith S. Clements

Word Origin and History for fleur-de-lis

also fleur de lis, mid-14c., from Old French, literally "flower of the lily," especially borne as a heraldic device on the royal arms of France. Perhaps originally representing an iris, or the head of a scepter, or a weapon of some sort.