1. The crown of an emperor, esp. as distinguished from a king’s crown.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apophth., 1. § 164. 136 b. [Diogenes] takyng no lesse pride and glorie of his libertee … then Alexander did of his kyngdome, and croune Emperiall.
2. A handsome species of Fritillary (Fritillaria Imperialis), a native of Levantine regions, cultivated in English gardens: it bears a number of pendent flowers collected into a whorl round a terminal leafy tuft.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iii. 125. Bold Oxlips, and The Crowne Imperiall.
1625. B. Jonson, Pan’s Anniversary, Wks. (ed. Rtldg.), 643/1. Bright crown imperial, kingspear, holyhocks.
1816. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1843), II. 147. The conspicuous white nectaries of the Crown Imperial.
3. Arch. (See quot.)
1861. Beresf. Hope, Eng. Cathedr. 19th C., 244. There is a form of spire peculiar to the northern part of our island … I mean the Crown Imperial, or collection of ribs springing from the four angles, or from the four angles and four central points of a square tower, arching over like the crown from which the name is derived and meeting in a point from which a spire or spirelet springs.
