Lil"y (lil"&ybreve;), n.; pl. Lilies (-iz). [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.
⇒ There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North Temperate zone. Lilium candidum and L. longiflorum are the common white lilies of gardens; L. Philadelphicum is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States; L. Chalcedonicum is supposed to be the "lily of the field" in our Lord's parable; L. auratum is the great gold-banded lily of Japan.
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.
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.
But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west.
Sir T. Browne.
African lily (Bot.), the blue- flowered Agapanthus umbellatus. --
Atamasco lily (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zephyranthes (Z. 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, L. 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.]
© Webster 1913
Lil"y, n. (Auction Bridge)
A royal spade; -- usually in pl. See Royal spade, below.
© Webster 1913