fleuron

English

Etymology

From Old French floron (“flower”), spelling later changed to match modern French fleuron.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈflʊɹɑn/, /ˈfluɹɑn/, /ˈflɝɑn/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfl(j)ʊəɹɒn/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈfl(j)əɹɑn/
• Rhymes: -ʊəɹɒn, -uːɹɒn, -ɜːɹɒn

Noun

fleuron (plural fleurons)

1. An ornament or knob in the shape of a flower

   Coordinate term: finial

2. (architecture) The small decorative flower at the centre of each side of a Corinthian abacus; a flos.
3. (typography) A decorative typographic element, used to separate passages or simply for decoration. Often doubled, e.g. 🙚 🙘 or 🙘🙚, or combined with other fleurons into a short line.

   Fleurons include ❦, 🙐, 🙘, 🙠, 🙨, ☘, 🙬, 🕊, ✾, 𐡷, 𐫱.

See also

• asterism (⁂)
• dinkus (* * *)
• dingbat

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French floron, fleur +‎ -on, architectural sense probably influenced by Italian fiorone.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /flœ.ʁɔ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

fleuron m (plural fleurons)

1. (crown) jewel
2. (architecture) fleuron, finial
3. (typography) fleuron
4. (botany) floret
5. (figuratively) jewel, emblem
6. (cooking) a puff pastry croissant that accompanies certain dishes in sauce

Further reading

• “fleuron”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French fleuron.

Noun

fleuron m (plural fleuroni)

1. fleuron

Declension

Declension of fleuron

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) fleuron	fleuronul	(niște) fleuroni	fleuronii
genitive/dative	(unui) fleuron	fleuronului	(unor) fleuroni	fleuronilor
vocative	fleuronule		fleuronilor