clove-gillyflower
(ˈkləʊv dʒɪlɪflaʊə(r))
Forms: (3 clou de gilofre), 4–5 clowe gilofre, -gylofre, (clowes of gylofre, clawis of gelofre), 5 glowgelofre, 6 clowgelofer, cloue gillofer, -gilloflower, 6–8 clove gilliflower, 7–8 clove-July-flower, 7– clove-gillyflower.
[a. F. clou de girofle (girofre, gilofre): see clove2. Fr. girofle (girofre, gilofre), (in Pr. girofle, gerofle, Sp. girofle, -re, It. garofano, -folo, -filo), represents Romanic garoflo, garofilo, late L. type *carophilum, a. Gr. καρυόϕυλλον the clove, f. κάρυον nut + ϕύλλον leaf. In Eng. the Anglo-Fr. gilofre has passed through gillofer, gilloflower, to gillyflower, which has even been further perverted to July-flower.
The simple girofle, gilofre was the original name of the spice; but in OF. clou de girofle (= ‘girofle nail’, from the shape) came into popular use at an early date; thence the Eng. clowe of gilofre or more commonly clowe-gilofre. This was commonly shortened at length to clowe, clove, for the spice; the full name adhering to a flower, the ‘clove-pink’, smelling like the spice. Finally with the corruption of gilofre, to gillyflower, the latter name without clove, has passed on to various scented flowers, having no connexion either with the spice, or with the ‘clove-pink’. See gilly-flower.]
† 1. The spice clove n.2 1. Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 370 Ne makeden heo neuer strencðe of gingiuere ne of gedewal, ne of clou de gilofre. c 1386 Chaucer Sir Thopas 51 And many a clow gilofre And notemuge to put in ale. c 1400 Mandeville v. (1839) 51 Sume destyllen Clowes of Gylofre [ed. Roxb. 26 gariofles, clous de girofle]. Ibid. xxvi. 265 Many Trees, that beren Clowe Gylofres and Notemuges. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 26 With cloves of gelofer hit broche þou shalle. 14.. Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 586 Garriofila, glowgelofre. 1486 Bk. St. Albans C iij a, Clawis of gelofre and canell and gynger. |
2. A clove-scented species of Pink (Dianthus Caryophyllus), the original of the carnation and other cultivated double forms.
| 1538 Turner Libellus s.v. Betonica, Herba, quam uernacula lingua uocamus a Gelofer, aut a Clowgelofer aut an Incarnacyon. 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. vii. 154 The Cloue gillofer..The floures grow..out of long round smooth huskes and dented or toothed aboue like the spice called cloaues..[they] do all smell almost like Cloues. 1594 Plat Jewell Ho. i. Divers New Exper. 36 It is generally thought that the clouegilliflower gotte his firste sent from the cloue. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. clxxii. 472 Caryophyllus..some whereof are called Carnations, others Cloue Gilloflowers. 1657 S. Purchas Pol. Flying Ins. i. xv. 95 The Bees gather not of the..Clove-July-flower. a 1755 Miller (J.), The true clove-gillyflower has been long in use for making a cordial syrup. 1861 Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. I. 207 Clove-Pink, Carnation, or Clove-Gillyflower. |