gillyflower

See also: gilly-flower

English

Alternative forms

• gilliflower
• gilli-flower
• gilly-flower
• July-flower
• gilliver
• gilloflower

Etymology

By folk etymology (with influence from flower) from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] French girofle, gilofre, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Late Latin caryophyllum, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek καρυόφυλλον (karuóphullon, “dried flower buds of the clove tree”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɪl.ɪˌflaʊə/
• IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɪl.iˌflaʊɚ/, /ˈɡɪl.iˌflaʊɚ/

Noun

gillyflower (plural gillyflowers)

1. clove pink
2. Any clove-scented flower.
3. Any of several species of wallflower.
4. A variety of purplish-red apple with a roundish conical shape and a large core.
5. (heraldry) A stylized representation of a carnation blossom, usually red, and shown with or without a slip and leaves.

Synonyms

• (carnation): carnation, pink

Derived terms

Derived terms

• clove gillyflower
• marsh gillyflower
• Queen's gillyflower
• sea gillyflower

• wall gillyflower
• water gillyflower
• winter gillyflower

Translations

any clove-scented flower

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

variety of apple

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

heraldry: stylized carnation blossom

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

References

• Michael Quinion (2004) “Gillyflower”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.