Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gillyflower
Gil′ly-flowˊer
,Noun.
[OE.
gilofre
, gilofer
, clove, OF. girofre
, girofle
, F. girofle
: cf. F. giroflée
gillyflower, fr. girofle
, Gr. [GREEK] clove tree; [GREEK] nut + [GREEK] leaf, akin to E. foliage
. Cf. Caryophyllus
, July-flower
.] [Written also
gilliflower
.] (Bot.)
1.
A name given by old writers to the clove pink (
Dianthus Caryophyllus
) but now to the common stock (Matthiola incana
), a cruciferous plant with showy and fragrant blossoms, usually purplish, but often pink or white. Clove gillyflower
, the clove pink.
– Marsh gillyflower
, the ragged robin (
– Lychnis Flos-cuculi
). Queen’s gillyflower
, or Winter gillyflower
damewort.
– Sea gillyflower
, the thrift (
– Armeria vulgaris
). Wall gillyflower
, the wallflower (
– Cheiranthus Cheiri
). Water gillyflower
, the water violet.
Webster 1828 Edition
Gillyflower
GIL'LYFLOWER
,Noun.
The name of certain plants. The clove gilly-flower is of the genus Dianthus, or carnation pink; the stock gillyflower is the Cheiranthus; the queen's gillyflower is the Hesperis.