Advertisement

Advertisement

gillyflower

or gil·li·flow·er

[ jil-ee-flou-er ]

noun

  1. Archaic. any of several fragrant flowers of the genus Dianthus, as the carnation or clove pink.
  2. any of various other usually fragrant flowers, especially a stock, Matthiola incana, of the mustard family.


gillyflower

/ ˈdʒɪlɪˌflaʊə /

noun

  1. any of several plants having fragrant flowers, such as the stock and wallflower
  2. an archaic name for carnation
“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


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of gillyflower1

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 )
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of gillyflower1

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
Discover More

Example Sentences

The latter is a fragrant yellow-colored water, prepared from gillyflower, jasmine, and flor de mistela (Talinum umbellatum).

Ten Week Stock—the "Gillyflower" of grandmother's garden—is a late bloomer.

Mother used to tell how before I were born, she were in a terrible hurry to eat a Cornish Gillyflower.

In a wet place the "gillyflower" was growing, suggesting our dentaria, or crinkle-root.

"You're such a dear, Gillyflower," she said with that impulsive, lovable charm of manner which it was so difficult to resist.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


gillyGilman