E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Orange Lilies (The).
The 35th Foot. Called “orange” because their facings
were orange till 1832; and “lilies” because they were given white plumes in recognition of their gallantry in the battle of Quebec in 1759, when they routed the Royal Roussillon French Grenadiers. The white plume was discontinued in 1800. The 35th Foot is now called the “The Royal Sussex.”
1
William of Orange. William III. of England (1650, 1689–1702). “Orange” is a corruption of Arausio, in the department of Vaucluse, some sixteen miles from Avignon. The town was the capital of a principality from the eleventh to the sixteenth century. The last sovereign was Philibert de Châlons, whose sister married William, Count of Nassau. William’s grandson (William) married Mary, eldest daughter of Charles I., and their eldest son was our William III., referred to in the text.
