Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- Archaic. any of several fragrant flowers of the genus Dianthus, as the carnation or clove pink.
- any of various other usually fragrant flowers, especially a stock, Matthiola incana, of the mustard family.
noun
- any of several plants having fragrant flowers, such as the stock and wallflower
- an archaic name for carnation
1550s, folk etymology spelling (by association of flower) of gilofre, originally “clove,” c.1300, from Old French girofle “clove,” ultimately from Greek karyophyllon “clove, nut leaf, dried flower bud of clove tree,” from karyon “nut” (see karyo-) + phyllon “leaf” (see folio). The flower so named for its scent, so called from late 14c.