gillyflower

gil·ly·flow·er  (jl-flour)

n.

1. The carnation or a similar plant of the genus Dianthus.

2. Any of several plants, such as the wallflower, that have fragrant flowers.

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[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 Indo-European roots + phullon, leaf; see bhel-³ in Indo-European roots.]

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gillyflower, gilliflower [ˈdʒɪlɪˌflaʊə]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several plants having fragrant flowers, such as the stock and wallflower

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) an archaic name for carnation

[changed (through influence of flower) from gilofre, from Old French girofle, from Medieval Latin, from Greek karuophullon clove tree, from karuon nut + phullon leaf]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	gillyflower - any of several Old World plants cultivated for their brightly colored flowers stock flower - a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms genus Matthiola, Matthiola - genus of Old World plants grown as ornamentals brompton stock, Matthiola incana - European plant with racemes of sweet-scented flowers; widely cultivated as an ornamental
	2.	gillyflower - Eurasian plant with pink to purple-red spice-scented usually double flowers; widely cultivated in many varieties and many colors carnation, clove pink, Dianthus caryophyllus garden pink, pink - any of various flowers of plants of the genus Dianthus cultivated for their fragrant flowers