gillyflower

Variant of gilliflower

gilliflower definition

gil·li·flower (jil′i flo̵u′ər)

noun

  1. any of several plants of various families with clove-scented flowers, as the carnation
  2. stock (sense )
  3. wallflower (sense )

Etymology: altered (after flower) < ME gilofre < OFr gilofre, girofle, gilliflower < LL caryophyllon < Gr karyophyllon, clove tree < karyon, nut (see hard) + phyllon, leaf (see bloom)

Also sp. gillyflower gil′·ly·flow′er

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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