Word Study
fleur-de-lis
CIDE DICTIONARY
- The iris. See Flower-de-luce. [1913 Webster]
- A conventional flower suggested by the iris, and having a form which fits it for the terminal decoration of a scepter, the ornaments of a crown, etc. It is also a heraldic bearing, and is identified with the royal arms and adornments of France. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
fleur-de-lis, n. (also fleur-de-lys) (pl. fleurs- pronunc. same)
1 the iris flower.
2 Heraldry a a lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. b the former royal arms of France.
1 the iris flower.
2 Heraldry a a lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. b the former royal arms of France.
Etymology
ME f. OF flour de lys flower of lily
THESAURUS
fleur-de-lis
achievement, alerion, animal charge, annulet, argent, armorial bearings, armory, arms, azure, badge, badge of office, badges, bandeau, bar, bar sinister, baton, bearings, bend, bend sinister, billet, blazon, blazonry, bordure, brassard, broad arrow, button, cadency mark, canton, cap and gown, chain, chain of office, chaplet, charge, chevron, chief, class ring, coat of arms, cockade, cockatrice, collar, coronet, crescent, crest, cross, cross moline, crown, decoration, device, difference, differencing, dress, eagle, emblems, ensigns, ermine, ermines, erminites, erminois, escutcheon, falcon, fasces, fess, fess point, field, figurehead, file, flanch, fret, fur, fusil, garland, griffin, gules, gyron, hammer and sickle, hatchment, helmet, heraldic device, heraldry, honor point, impalement, impaling, inescutcheon, insignia, label, lapel pin, lion, livery, lozenge, mace, mantle, mantling, markings, marshaling, martlet, mascle, medal, metal, mortarboard, motto, mullet, nombril point, octofoil, old school tie, or, ordinary, orle, pale, paly, pean, pheon, pin, purpure, quarter, quartering, regalia, ring, rose, sable, saltire, school ring, scutcheon, shamrock, shield, sigillography, skull and crossbones, sphragistics, spread eagle, staff, subordinary, swastika, tartan, tenne, thistle, tie, tincture, torse, tressure, unicorn, uniform, vair, verge, vert, wand, wreath, yaleROGET THESAURUS
fleur-de-lis
Ornament
N ornament, floridness c, adj, turgidity, turgescence, altiloquence, declamation, teratology, well-rounded periods, elegance, orotundity, inversion, antithesis, alliteration, paronomasia, figurativeness, flourish, flowers of speech, flowers of rhetoric, frills of style, euphuism, euphemism, big-sounding words, high-sounding words, macrology, sesquipedalia verba, Alexandrine, inflation, pretension, rant, bombast, fustian, prose run mad, fine writing, sesquipedality, Minerva press, phrasemonger, euphuist, euphemist, ornament, beautified, ornate, florid, rich, flowery, euphuistic, euphemistic, sonorous, high-sounding, big-sounding, inflated, swelling, tumid, turgid, turgescent, pedantic, pompous, stilted, orotund, high flown, high flowing, sententious, rhetorical, declamatory, grandiose, grandiloquent, magniloquent, altiloquent, sesquipedal, sesquipedalian, Johnsonian, mouthy, bombastic, fustian, frothy, flashy, flaming, antithetical, alliterative, figurative, artificial, ore rutundo, ornament, ornamentation, ornamental art, ornature, ornateness, adornment, decoration, embellishment, architecture, jewelry, garnish, polish, varnish, French polish, veneer, japanning, lacquer, gilding, plating, ormolu, enamel, cloisonn_e, cosmetics (in general), makeup, eye shadow, rouge, face powder, lipstick, blush, pattern, diaper, powdering, paneling, graining, pargeting, detail, repousse (convexity), texture, richness, tracery, molding, fillet, listel, strapwork, coquillage, flourish, fleur-de-lis, arabesque, fret, anthemion, egg and tongue, egg and dart, astragal, zigzag, acanthus, cartouche, pilaster, bead, beading, champleve ware, cloisonne ware, frost work, Moresque, Morisco, tooling, embroidery, brocade, brocatelle, galloon, lace, fringe, trapping, border, edging, trimming, hanging, tapestry, arras, millinery, ermine, drap d'or, wreath, festoon, garland, chaplet, flower, nosegay, bouquet, posy, daisies pied and violets blue, tassel knot, shoulder knot, apaulette, epaulet, aigulet, frog, star, rosette, bow, feather, plume, pompom, panache, aigrette, finery, frippery, gewgaw, gimcrack, tinsel, spangle, clinquant, pinchbeck, paste, excess of ornament, gaud, pride, illustration, illumination, vignette, fleuron, head piece, tail piece, cul-de-lampe, flowers of rhetoric, work of art, ornamented, beautified, ornate, rich, gilt, begilt, tesselated, festooned, champleve, cloisonne, topiary, smart, gay, trickly, flowery, glittering, new gilt, new spangled, fine as a Mayday queen, fine as a fivepence, fine as a carrot fresh scraped, pranked out, bedight, well-groomed, in full dress, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, dressed to advantage, in Sunday best, en grand tenue, en grande toilette, in best bib and tucker, endimanche, showy, flashy, gaudy, garish, gairish, gorgeous, ornamental, decorative, becoming.For further exploring for "fleur-de-lis" in Webster Dictionary Online