fleur-de-lys

American  

[flur-dl-ee, -ees, floor-, flœr-duh-lees] / ˌflɜr dlˈi, -ˈis, ˌflʊər-, flœr dəˈlis /

noun

plural

fleurs-de-lys

1. fleur-de-lis.

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fleur-de-lys British  

/ ˌflɜːdəˈliː /

noun

1. heraldry a charge representing a lily with three distinct petals

2. another name for iris

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Etymology

Origin of fleur-de-lys

C19: from Old French flor de lis , literally: lily flower

Example Sentences

The house of Anjou is promoted through its heraldry; the fleur-de-lys symbolises a resurgent France in its battles with the English.

From The Guardian • Apr. 17, 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also revealed their royal monogram, which features an intertwining cursive "H" and "M" under a fleur-de-lys crown, prior to their wedding.

From Fox News • Oct. 2, 2018

Prior to Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle, the couple revealed their royal monogram which features an intertwining cursive "H" and "M" under a fleur-de-lys crown.

From Fox News • Oct. 2, 2018

The off-white two-piece is up for auction at Braswell galleries in Connecticut, alongside the brown velvet embroidered fleur-de-lys jacket the musician wore during the film Imagine, made in 1971 with his wife Yoko Ono.

From The Guardian • Dec. 31, 2010

A major lesson is the central place of maize, usually represented by a vertical ear with two leaves falling to the side, a talismanic symbol reminiscent of a fleur-de-lys.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann