| gillyflower | <botany> 1. A name given by old writers to the clove pink (Dianthus Caryophyllus) but now to the common stock (Matthiola incana), a cruciferous plant with showy and fragrant blossoms, usually purplish, but often pink or white. 2. A kind of apple, of a roundish conical shape, purplish red colour, and having a large core. Alternative forms: gilliflower] Clove gillflower, the clove pink. Marsh gillyflower, the ragged robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi). Queen's, or Winter, gillyflower, damewort. Sea gillyflower, the thrift (Armeria vulgaris). Wall gillyflower, the wallflower (Cheiranthus Cheiri). Water gillyflower, the water violet. Origin: OE. Gilofre, gilofer, clove, OF. Girofre, girofle, F. Girofle: cf. F. Giroflee gillyflower, fr. Girofle, Gr. Clove tree; nut + leaf, akin to E. Foliage. Cf. Caryophyllus, July-flower. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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