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

Example Sentences

The Nordiques wore their politics on their sleeves, literally, putting the Quebec flag’s fleur-de-lis on their uniforms.

From New York Times

Made of cloth of gold, it is embellished with motifs including fleur-de-lis, as well as imperial eagles, and national floral emblems of red-pink roses, blue thistles and green shamrocks.

From BBC

But this rabbit is at least three times as big as the others, each ear sprouting straight up like the tip of a fleur-de-lis, and it seems remarkably self-possessed for a rabbit.

From Seattle Times

Its teeth are designed in the shape of the royal fleur-de-lis.

From Washington Post

A stained-glass window bears a fleur-de-lis pattern and a celluloid film strip.

From Los Angeles Times