fleur-de-lis

[ flur-dl-ee, -ees, floor-; French flœr-duh-lees ]

noun

, plural fleurs-de-lis [flur-dl-, eez, fl, oo, r-, fl, œ, r, -d, uh, -, 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleur-de-lis¹

1300–50; < French; replacing Middle English flourdelis < Anglo-French flour de lis, literally, lily flower