▪ I. floral, a.
(ˈflɔərəl)
[ad. L. flōrāl-is of or pertaining to Flōra: see flora and -al1. In sense 3 it may be regarded as a new formation on L. flōr-, flōs flower. Cf. F. floral in all the senses.]
1. Hist. Pertaining to or in honour of the goddess Flora. floral shows = L. Floralia.
| 1647 Stapylton Juvenal 270 The Florall showes were celebrated in the end of Aprill, in honour of the Goddesse of Flowers and gardens. 1718 Prior Henry & Emma 769 Let One great Day, To..Floral Play Be set aside. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Florales Ludi, Floral Games. |
2. Pertaining to a flora or floras. floral zone: one of the tracts into which the earth's surface may be divided with regard to the character of the vegetable life.
| 1870 Yeats Nat. Hist. Comm. 100 The floral zones are less irregular than the faunal. |
3. Of or pertaining to a flower or flowers. floral clock (see quot. 1962). floral diagram: a diagram exhibiting the relative position of the parts in the cross-section of a flower. floral envelope (see envelope n. 3). floral leaf (see quot. 1753). floral tribute: a gift of flowers at a funeral; a wreath.
| 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v. Leaf, Floral Leaf expresses one found near the flower, and which never appears but with the flower. 1793 Martyn Lang. Bot., Floral bud, containing the flowers. 1829 Loudon Encycl. Plants, Gloss. 1099 Floral envelopes. 1845 Florist's Jrnl. 230 Floral Intelligence. 1861 Bentley Bot. (1870) 133 Floral leaves or bracts. 1876 Hooker Bot. Primer 62 The outermost of the floral whorls, the calyx. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 95/2 Another floral expedition. 1882 Vines Sachs' Bot. 601 The Floral Diagram is constructed differently according to the purpose it is intended to serve. 1887 Nuneaton Chron. In Memoriam C. N. Newdegate 13 Apr., Floral Tributes. Prior to the funeral, a large number of..wreaths were received. 1925 Ward Lock's Pict. Guide Edin. (ed. 8) 62 Below it, in summer, is a beautiful floral clock of rare design. 1962 E. Bruton Dict. Clocks 74 Floral clock, large public clock set out in bedding plants on the ground. Some strike; a few are cuckoo clocks. 1963 Listener 14 Feb. 302/2 The road to the floral clock lay wide open. 1963 C. E. Vulliamy (title) Floral tribute. Ibid. i. 17 Those pompous laurels and lilies, the floral tribute of a person or persons unknown. 1971 Times 31 July 2/2 Mrs. Meena Jayant Madhavani with her children..gratefully thank..those who arranged floral tributes following the passing away of our Mr. Jayant in New Delhi. |
Hence ˈflorally adv., in quot., like a flower.
| 1820 Examiner No. 631. 317/1 Profound in its depth of chiaroscuro, and florally blooming in its colour. |
Add: [1.] b. floral dance, the furry dance of Helston (see furry n.2). Cf. *flora n. 1 b.
| 1911 K. Moss (title) The floral dance. Song, words and music—music founded on an old Cornish air. 1928 Daily Express 21 Jan. 9/1 It reminds one of the ‘furry faddy’ or floral dance of Helston in all except the kissing. 1972 T. FitzGibbon Taste of Eng.: West Country 90/1 The Furry or Floral Dance is of Saxon origin, another of the festivals to usher in the summer. |
▪ II. floral, n.
(ˈflɔərəl)
[f. the adj.]
† 1. A dancer at the Floralia, a Roman festival in honour of the goddess Flora. Obs.
| a 1658 Lovelace Lucasta (1659) 13 So Cato sometimes the nak'd Florals saw. |
2. A fabric with a floral design.
| 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 222/1 Persians, plaids, checks, brocades, dots, floral. 1953 A. Upfield Murder must Wait x. 91 The other women..wear dizzy florals. 1960 Guardian 8 Feb. 6/7 The initial designs..are all conventional florals. |