trifoly

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English

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Etymology

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From Latin trifolium. See trifoliate, trefoil.

Noun

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trifoly (countable and uncountable, plural trifolies) (obsolete)

  1. Melilot; sweet clover
    • 1604 March 25 (first performance; Gregorian calendar; published 1604), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Part of the Kings Entertainment in Passing to His Coronation [The Coronation Triumph]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: [] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, page 846:
      Shee was crowned with a chaplet of trifoly, to expreſſe readineſſe, and openneſſe euery way; []
  2. The plant trefoil.
    • 1840 March, Robert Browning, “Book the Third”, in Sordello, London: Edward Moxon, [], →OCLC, page 87:
      Braid moonfern now with mystic trifoly / Because once more Goito gets, once more, / Sordello to itself!

References

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trifoly”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.