The flower of the (white) lily; occas. the heraldic fleur-de-lis.
a. 1300–1400. Cursor M., 25630 (Gött.). Þar þu lay in þi bright boure, Leuedi! quite als leli floure.
1340. Ayenb., 230. My lemman is ase þe lylye amang þe þornes…. Þis lilye flour lokeþ his uayrhede amang þe þornes of uondingges of þe ulesse.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 161. A garlond … of rose leuys Stekid al with lylye flourys newe.
c. 1440. York Myst., xii. 91. Þe lelly floure full faire of hewe.
1612. Webster, White Devil, V. Stage Direction L 2, marg. A pot of lilly flowers.
1833. Tennyson, Œnone, 94, Poems, 56. The smooth-swarded bower, Lustrous with lilyflower.
