- skip - Brewer’s

Gillyflower (g soft)

is not the July-flower, but the French giroflée, from girofle (a clove), called by Chaucer “gilofre.” The common stock, the wall-flower, the rocket, the clove pink, and several other plants are so called. (Greek karuophullon; Latin, caryophyllum, the clove gillyflower.)

“The fairest flowers the season


Are our carnations and streaked gillyflowers.”


Shakespeare: Winter’s Tale, iv. 2.

 

previous entry · index · next entry

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

previous entry · index · next entry

Gildippe (in Jerusalem Delivered)
Giles
Giles (St.)
Giles Overreach (Sir)
Giles of Antwerp (g soft)
Gill (g soft) or Jill
Gill (Harry)
Gills (g hard)
Gillie (g hard)
Gillies Hill
Gillyflower (g soft)
Gilpin (John)
Gilt (g hard)
Gilt-edge Investments
Giltspur Street (West Smithfield)
Gimlet Eye (g hard)
Gimmer (g soft)
Gin Sling
Ginevra (g soft)
Gingerbread
Gingerbread (g soft)