flower-de-luce: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ArchaicLiterary, Poetic, Historical, Heraldic
Quick answer
What does “flower-de-luce” mean?
An archaic or poetic name for the iris, especially the species Iris pseudacorus, or the fleur-de-lis heraldic emblem.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic or poetic name for the iris, especially the species Iris pseudacorus, or the fleur-de-lis heraldic emblem.
Used historically to refer to the iris flower and its stylized three-petal form, famously associated with French royalty and heraldry. Can denote the fleur-de-lis symbol in art, architecture, or decoration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic in both varieties. Slightly more likely to appear in British texts due to historical heraldic connections in European context.
Connotations
Evokes medieval or Renaissance settings, chivalric romance, heraldry, and formal garden descriptions.
Frequency
Effectively obsolete in contemporary usage in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “flower-de-luce” in a Sentence
The [noun] was adorned with a flower-de-luce.A [adjective] flower-de-luce symbolised...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flower-de-luce” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The banner bore a flower-de-luce motif.
American English
- The flower-de-luce pattern was etched into the gate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical, literary, or heraldic studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
In heraldry (blazonry) or historical botany texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flower-de-luce”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flower-de-luce”
- Misspelling as 'flower-de-loose' or 'flower-deluce'.
- Using it as a general term for any garden flower.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, essentially. 'Flower-de-luce' is an archaic English rendition of the French 'fleur de lys' or 'fleur-de-lis', referring to the same stylized lily/iris emblem.
No, it would sound highly archaic and pretentious. Use 'iris' for the flower or 'fleur-de-lis' for the symbol.
It comes from Middle English 'flour-de-lice', from Anglo-French 'flur de lis', literally 'lily flower'.
The most common historical spelling is with hyphens: 'flower-de-luce'. Modern references to the emblem typically use 'fleur-de-lis'.
An archaic or poetic name for the iris, especially the species Iris pseudacorus, or the fleur-de-lis heraldic emblem.
Flower-de-luce is usually literary, poetic, historical, heraldic in register.
Flower-de-luce: in British English it is pronounced /ˌflaʊə də ˈluːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌflaʊər də ˈluːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A FLOWER that's DE-lightful and LUC-ent (shiny) like a royal emblem.
Conceptual Metaphor
PURITY (white iris), ROYALTY (fleur-de-lis), FAITH (in Christian iconography).
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you MOST likely to encounter the term 'flower-de-luce'?