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fleur de lys

 - 3 dictionary results

fleur-de-lys

[flur-dl-ee, -ees, floor-; Fr. flœr-duh-lees]
–noun, plural fleurs-de-lys [flur-dl-eez, floor-; Fr. flœr-duh-lees] .
fleur-de-lis (defs. 1, 2).

fleur-de-lis

[flur-dl-ee, -ees, floor-; Fr. flœr-duh-lees]
–noun, plural fleurs-de-lis [flur-dl-eez, floor-; Fr. flœr-duh-lees] .
1. a heraldic device somewhat resembling three petals or floral segments of an iris tied by an encircling band.
2. the heraldic bearing of the royal family of France.
3. the iris flower or plant.
Also, fleur-de-lys (for defs. 1, 2).


Origin:
1300–50; < F; r. ME flourdelis < AF flour de lis, lit., lily flower
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

fleur-de-lis 
1352, from O.Fr., lit. "flower of the lily," especially borne as a heraldic device on the royal arms of France. Perhaps originally representing an iris, or the head of a scepter, or a weapon of some sort.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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