gillyflower

or gil·li·flow·er

[ jil-ee-flou-er ]

/ ˈdʒɪl iˌflaʊ ər /

noun

Archaic. any of several fragrant flowers of the genus Dianthus, as the carnation or clove pink.

any of various other usually fragrant flowers, especially a stock, Matthiola incana, of the mustard family.

Nearby words

gillion, gillnet, gillray, gills, gilly, gillyflower, gilman, gilman, charlotte p., gilman, daniel coit, gilolo, gilroy

Origin of gillyflower

1300–50; alteration (by association with flower) of Middle English gilofre, geraflour < Old French gilofre, girofle < Latin caryophyllum < Greek karyóphyllon clove (káryo(n) nut + phýllon leaf)

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

Examples from the Web for gillyflower

In a wet place the "gillyflower" was growing, suggesting our dentaria, or crinkle-root.
Fresh Fields|John Burroughs
"It's no use, Gillyflower," she would reply with a weary little smile.
The Lamp of Fate|Margaret Pedler
Ten Week Stock—the "Gillyflower" of grandmother's garden—is a late bloomer.
Amateur Gardencraft|Eben E. Rexford
I cannot talk to you any more, my Gillyflower, though I am leaving volumes unsaid.
Beechcroft at Rockstone|Charlotte M. Yonge

Even you couldn't cut through 'ropes of steel,' my Gillyflower.
The Lamp of Fate|Margaret Pedler

British Dictionary definitions for gillyflower

gillyflower

gilliflower

/ (ˈdʒɪlɪˌflaʊə) /

noun

any of several plants having fragrant flowers, such as the stock and wallflower

an archaic name for carnation

Word Origin for gillyflower

C14: changed (through influence of flower) from gilofre, from Old French girofle, from Medieval Latin, from Greek karuophullon clove tree, from karuon nut + phullon leaf

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012