‖ fleuron
(flœrɔ̃)
Also 4 floroun.
[a. F. fleuron, OF. floron, f. fleur flower.]
1. A flower-shaped ornament, used esp. in architecture or printing, on coins, etc.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 220 So were the florouns of her coroun whyte. c 1660 Bp. Cosin in C. Walker Ritual Reason Why 43 note, In some MS. ‘directions to the printer’..he [Bp. Cosin] inserted after the Absolution ‘Here set a fleuron’. 1830 E. Hawkins Anglo-Fr. Coinage 73 Crown of eight lilies and four fleurons. 1833 Ellis Elgin Marb. II. 169 The front is enriched with a fleuron. 1882 Yule in Encycl. Brit. XIV. 498 These latter [coins] bore (obverse) a Nepalese emblem surrounded by eight fleurons containing the eight sacred Buddhist jewels. |
2. (See quot.)
| 1724–1800 Bailey, Fleurons [in Cookery], fine Tarts or Puffs of Pastry Work for Garnishing. 1823 in Crabb. |
† 3. = floret. Obs. rare—1.
| 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Butter-Burr, The Flower..forms a Tuft with several Fleurons cut or divided into long Strings. |