Obs. Forms: 6 floray, florrey, flurry, 6–7 florie, -y, 6–8 florey, 8 floree. [a. F. florée, var. of fleurée in same sense, f. fleur flower.] A blue pigment consisting of the scum collected from the vat in dyeing with woad or indigo.
1527. MS. Acc. R. Gibson, Master of Revels (Public Record Office). Boght … iiij li of dry flory, the li lij s.
1573. Art of Limming, 4. Smalt or florey being tempered in a shell with gumme water maketh a blue.
1640. Parkinson, Theat. Bot., V. lxiii. 602. Florey, which the painters sometimes use, and is the scumme of the dyfat, while the cloth is upon the dying a blew colour with Indico or Woade, and is a fine light powder.
1721–1800. Bailey, Floree, Florey.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Floree, powder blue or indigo.
attrib. 1606. Peacham, Art Drawing, 58. Take Florey Blew and grind it with a little fine Roset, and it will make a deepe violet.
