lily

Etymology

From Middle English lilie, from Old English lilie, from Latin līlia, plural of līlium, from Ancient Greek λείριον (leírion), from Fayyumic Coptic ϩⲗⲏⲣⲓ (hlēri) (compare Sahidic Coptic ϩⲣⲏⲣⲉ (hrēre)), from Demotic (ḥrry, “flower”), from Egyptian Hr:r-r:*t-Hn (ḥrrt, “flower”), which is perhaps also the root of Sanskrit हली (halī), हलिनी (halinī, “lily”).

noun

1. Any of several flowers in the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae, which includes a great many ornamental species.
2. Any of several species of herbaceous flower which may or may not resemble the genus Lilium in some way, and which are not closely related to it or each other.
3. (heraldry) The flower used as a heraldic charge; also commonly used to describe the fleur-de-lis.
4. The end of a compass needle that should point north, traditionally often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis.
   But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west. 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica
5. (card games, usually in the plural) A royal spade in auction bridge.
6. (cartomancy) The thirtieth Lenormand card, representing calmness and maturity.

adj

1. (slang, derogatory) White (as a racial epithet).
   "Can't you see I'm trying to save your lily ass?" "I don't want to be saved," Tess moaned as he hauled her up and into his lap with one beefy hand. 1994, Colleen Faulkner, Captive