Matthiola incana

Gillyflower Gil"ly*flow`er, n. [OE. gilofre, gilofer, clove, OF. girofre, girofle, F. girofle: cf. F. girofl['e]e gillyflower, fr. girofle, Gr. ? clove tree; ? nut + ? leaf, akin to E. foliage. Cf. {Caryophyllus}, {July-flower}.] [Written also {gilliflower}.] (Bot.) 1. A name given by old writers to the clove pink ({Dianthus Caryophyllus}) but now to the common stock ({Matthiola incana}), a cruciferous plant with showy and fragrant blossoms, usually purplish, but often pink or white. [1913 Webster]

2. A kind of apple, of a roundish conical shape, purplish red color, and having a large core.

{Clove gillyflower}, the clove pink.

{Marsh gillyflower}, the ragged robin ({Lychnis Flos-cuculi}).

{Queen's gillyflower}, or {Winter gillyflower}, damewort.

{Sea gillyflower}, the thrift ({Armeria vulgaris}).

{Wall gillyflower}, the wallflower ({Cheiranthus Cheiri}).

{Water gillyflower}, the water violet. [1913 Webster]