fleur-de-lis
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Related to fleur-de-lis: fleur-de-lys
fleur-de-lis
or fleur-de-lys (flûr′də-lē′, flo͝or′-)n. pl. fleurs-de-lis or fleurs-de-lys (flûr′də-lēz′, flo͝or′-)
1. An iris.
2.
a. Heraldry A device consisting of a stylized three-petaled iris flower, used as the armorial emblem of the kings of France.
b. A similar design used as a decorative motif.
[Middle English flour de lice, from Old French flor de lis : flor, flower + de, of + lis, lily.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fleur-de-lis
or fleur-de-lys
(ˌflɜr dlˈi, -dlˈis, ˌflʊər-)n., pl. fleurs-de-lis or fleurs-de-lys (-dlˈiz)
1. a stylized representation of an iris with three petals tied by a band, used ornamentally.
2. the iris flower or plant.
[1300–50; Middle English flourdelis < Anglo-French flour de lis literally, lily flower]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | fleur-de-lis - plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals iridaceous plant - any bulbous plant of the family Iridaceae genus Iris - large genus of perennials that develop from bulbs or rhizomes bearded iris - any of numerous wild or cultivated irises with hairlike structures on the falls (the drooping sepals) beardless iris - any of numerous wild or cultivated irises having no hairs on the drooping sepals (the falls) bulbous iris - any of various irises having a rootstock formed like a bulb Iris cristata, dwarf iris - low-growing summer-flowering iris of northeastern United States gladdon, gladdon iris, Iris foetidissima, roast beef plant, stinking gladwyn, stinking iris - iris with purple flowers and foul-smelling leaves; southern and western Europe and North Africa Iris persica, Persian iris - bulbous iris native to Asia Minor cultivated for its pale lilac-colored flowers Iris pseudacorus, yellow flag, yellow iris, yellow water flag - common yellow-flowered iris of Europe and North Africa, naturalized in United States and often cultivated dwarf iris, Iris verna, vernal iris - low-growing spring-flowering American iris with bright blue-lilac flowers blue flag, Iris versicolor - a common iris of the eastern United States having blue or blue-violet flowers; root formerly used medicinally Iris virginica, southern blue flag - similar to blue flag; the eastern United States English iris, Iris xiphioides - bulbous iris native to the Pyrenees; widely cultivated for its large delicate flowers in various colors except yellow |
2. | fleur-de-lis - (heraldry) charge consisting of a conventionalized representation of an iris armorial bearing, heraldic bearing, bearing, charge - heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield heraldry - the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies |
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