love knot

American  

noun

1. a knot of ribbon as a token of love.

---

love knot British  

noun

1. Also called: lover's knot.  a stylized bow, usually of ribbon, symbolizing the bond between two lovers

---

Etymology

Origin of love knot

1350–1400; Middle English love knotte

Example Sentences

Speaking of misfortunes, the Enys-Mark-Keren love knot ends even more poorly than I thought possible.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2015

Here, the empty spaces, the holes in the white love knot of figures, are as interesting as the limbs, bodies and heads.

From Time Magazine Archive

So Herrick:— “Thou sent’st to me a true love knot; but I Return a ring of jimmals, to imply Thy love had one knot, mine a triple tye.”

From Rambles of an Archaeologist Among Old Books and in Old Places Being Papers on Art, in Relation to Archaeology, Painting, Art-Decoration, and Art-Manufacture by Fairholt, F. W. (Frederick William)

I heard his suit the Coxcomb ply; I heard her answer—"No;" A true love knot he ne'er could tie, Who could not bend a bow.

From Notes and Queries, Number 184, May 7, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George

Why do so many marriages persist when the love knot slips, and bandages fall away from the eyes?

From The Intelligence of Woman by George, Walter Lionel