African lily

African lily
Lily Lil"y (l[i^]l"[y^]), n.; pl. {Lilies} (l[i^]l"[i^]z). [AS. lilie, L. lilium, Gr. lei`rion. Cf. {Flower-de-luce}.] 1. (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]

Note: 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]

2. (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. [1913 Webster]

3. 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. [1913 Webster]

But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

4. (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 {Nymph[ae]a}, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of {Nymph[ae]a}.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • African lily — n. an African plant (Agapanthus africanus) of the lily family with blue or white, funnel shaped flowers …   English World dictionary

  • African lily — may refer to:* Agapanthus africanus * Agapanthus praecox …   Wikipedia

  • African lily — noun African plant with bright green evergreen leaves and umbels of many usually deep violet blue flowers • Syn: ↑African tulip, ↑blue African lily, ↑Agapanthus africanus • Hypernyms: ↑agapanthus, ↑lily of the Nile • Member Holonyms …   Useful english dictionary

  • African-lily — skėtinis agapantas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Agapantinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Agapanthus africanus), paplitęs pietų Afrikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Agapanthus africanus angl. African agapanthus; African lily; blue African lily;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • African-lily — ankstyvasis agapantas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Agapantinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Agapanthus praecox), paplitęs pietų Afrikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Agapanthus praecox angl. African lily šaltinis Valstybinės lietuvių kalbos… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • African-lily — agapantas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Agapantinių (Agapanthaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Agapanthus). atitikmenys: lot. Agapanthus angl. African lily; Agapanthus vok. Agapanthus; Lebensblume; Liebesblume rus. агапант; агапантус lenk.… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • African lily — lily of the Nile. * * * or lily of the Nile Perennial evergreen herbaceous plant (Agapanthus africanus) of the lily family, native to Africa. In summer, long stalks bear many funnel shaped flowers. The attractive, thick, dark green leaves are… …   Universalium

  • African Lily — noun A plant of the genus Agapanthus umbellatus having a short stem bearing a tuft of long, narrow, arching leaves 1/2 to 2 ft. long and a central flower stalk 2 to 3 ft. high, ending in an umbel of bright blue, funnel shaped flowers …   Wiktionary

  • African lily — /æfrɪkən ˈlɪli/ (say afrikuhn lilee) noun → agapanthus …  

  • blue African-lily — skėtinis agapantas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Agapantinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Agapanthus africanus), paplitęs pietų Afrikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Agapanthus africanus angl. African agapanthus; African lily; blue African lily;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

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