noun, plural fleurs-de-lys [flur-dl-eez, floo r-; French flœr-duh–lees] /ˌflɜr dlˈiz, ˌflʊər-; French flœr dəˈlis/.
noun, plural fleurs-de-lis [flur-dl-eez, floo r-; French flœr-duh–lees] /ˌflɜr dlˈiz, ˌflʊər-; French flœr dəˈlis/.
- a heraldic device somewhat resembling three petals or floral segments of an iris tied by an encircling band.
- the heraldic bearing of the royal family of France.
- the iris flower or plant.
noun plural fleurs-de-lys or fleurs-de-lis (ˌflɜːdəˈliːz)
- heraldry a charge representing a lily with three distinct petals
- another name for iris (def. 2)
also fleur de lis, mid-14c., from Old French, literally “flower of the lily,” especially borne as a heraldic device on the royal arms of France. Perhaps originally representing an iris, or the head of a scepter, or a weapon of some sort.