Lily n. (pl. lilies) 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 Lilium longiflorum are the common white lilies of gardens; Lilium Philadelphicum is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States. Lilium Chalcedonicum is supposed to be the "lily of the field" in our Lord's parable; Lilium 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."
4.(Auction Bridge) A royal spade; usually in pl. See Royal spade, below. African lily (Bot.), the blue-flowered Agapanthus umbellatus.
Atamasco lily (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zephyranthes (Zephyranthes Atamasco), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily.
Blackberry lily (Bot.), the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry.
Bourbon lily (Bot.), Lilium candidum.
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.
Lily of the valley (Bot.), a low perennial herb (Convallaria majalis), having a raceme of nodding, fragrant, white flowers.
Lily pad, the large floating leaf of the water lily. (U. S.)
Tiger lily (Bot.), Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black.
Turk's-cap lily (Bot.) Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, Lilium superbum.
Water lily (Bot.), the Nymphaea, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow.
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