fleur-de-lis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a stylized three-petalled flower used as a heraldic charge and decorative emblem, especially associated with the French monarchy

   A gold fleur-de-lis appeared above each blue panel of the shield.

2. 2
   noun

   a decorative motif of the same form used in textiles, metalwork, architecture, and organizational emblems

   The silk binding was patterned with birds and small fleurs-de-lis.

Borrowed from French fleur de lis, literally 'flower of the lily.' The conventional emblem may originally have represented an iris rather than a botanical lily, but it became strongly associated with French royal heraldry and European decorative art.

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