| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| gillyflower |
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| SYLLABICATION: | gil·ly·flow·er |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  j l  -flou  r |
| NOUN: | 1. The carnation or a similar plant of the genus Dianthus. 2. Any of several plants, such as the wallflower, that have fragrant flowers. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Alteration (influenced by flower) of Middle English gilofre, from Old French gilofre, girofle, clove, from Late Latin gariofilum, from Greek karuophullon : karuon, nut; see kar- in Appendix I + phullon, leaf; see bhel-3 in Appendix I.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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