A flower growing in water; the representation of such a flower in metal, in embroidery, etc.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 115. Old spanges and water floures of silver.
1509. Will, in Archæologia, LXVI. 313. Item ij. aulter clothes Crymsen velwett vpon velwet sett wt water flowres. Ibid., 340. Itm a vestyment of blue velvett thorfreis of crymsyn cloth of gold enbroderid wt water floures.
1599. Breton, Will of Wit (Grosart), 37/2. I must learne to make a waterflower, in an old ragge, good enough for a sampler for mee.
1827. Mrs. Hemans, Streams, 4, in New Monthly Mag., XX. 268.
| Ye [streams] that are born of the valleys deep, | |
| With the water-flowers on your breast asleep. |
