GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Lily , n.; pl. Lilies . [AS. lilie, L. lilium, Gr. λείριον. Cf. Flower-de-luce.]
    (Bot.) A plant and flower of the genus Lilium, endogenous bulbous plants, having a regular perianth of six colored pieces, six stamens, and a superior three-celled ovary.
   1913 Webster
   ☞ There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North Temperate zone. Lilium candidum and Lilium longiflorum are the common white lilies of gardens; Lilium Philadelphicum is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States. Lilium Chalcedonicum is supposed to be the “lily of the field” in our Lord's parable; Lilium auratum is the great gold-banded lily of Japan.
   1913 Webster
   (Bot.) A name given to handsome flowering plants of several genera, having some resemblance in color or form to a true lily, as Pancratium, Crinum, Amaryllis, Nerine, etc.
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   That end of a compass needle which should point to the north; -- so called as often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis.
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   But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west.
   Sir T. Browne. 
   
   1913 Webster
   (Auction Bridge) A royal spade; -- usually in pl. See Royal spade, below.
   Webster 1913 Suppl.
   African lily (Bot.), the blue-flowered Agapanthus umbellatus. -- Atamasco lily (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zephyranthes (Zephyranthes Atamasco), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily. Gray. -- Blackberry lily (Bot.), the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry. -- Bourbon lily (Bot.), Lilium candidum. See Illust. -- Butterfly lily. (Bot.) Same as Mariposa lily, in the Vocabulary. -- Lily beetle (Zool.), a European beetle (Crioceris merdigera) which feeds upon the white lily. -- Lily daffodil (Bot.), a plant of the genus Narcissus, and its flower. -- Lily encrinite (Paleon.), a fossil encrinite, esp. Encrinus liliiformis. See Encrinite. -- Lily hyacinth (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hyacinthus. -- Lily iron, a kind of harpoon with a detachable head of peculiar shape, used in capturing swordfish.  -- Lily of the valley (Bot.), a low perennial herb (Convallaria majalis), having a raceme of nodding, fragrant, white flowers.  -- Lily pad, the large floating leaf of the water lily. [U. S.] Lowell. -- Tiger lily (Bot.), Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black. -- Turk's-cap lily (Bot.) Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, Lilium superbum. -- Water lily (Bot.), the Nymphæa, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of Nymphæa.]
   1913 Webster