fleur-de-lis
Americannoun
plural
fleurs-de-lis-
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.
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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Clairboyance
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Strange Birds
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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.
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
If you’ve been to New Orleans, you’ve seen the fleur-de-lis.
From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2022
A stained-glass window bears a fleur-de-lis pattern and a celluloid film strip.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2021
Each had knotted, carefully combed tassels, fleur-de-lis borders, ornate medallion designs, and minute scalloping amid a motif of connected eight-spoked wheels, all in rust and fire orange.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
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.
