Lily \Lil"y\ (l[i^]l"[y^]), n.; pl. Lilies (-[i^]z). [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.
Note: 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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