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fleur de lys
< French 'lily flower'
DCHP-2 (Oct 2012)
Spelling variants:fleur-de-lys, fleur de lis, fleur-de-lis,
1n. & adj. — French relations
a depiction of a lily representing the Francophone community in Canada or the province of Quebec; a national symbol (see Image 1).
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The fleur de lys is a heraldic symbol associated with the French monarchy. The province of Quebec features the symbol in the four corners of its flag, adopted in 1948. Today, it is perhaps the most distinct symbol for Quebec and Francophone Canada.
See also Gage-1, s.v. "fleur-de-lys" (3), which is described as relating to Quebec, ITP Nelson, s.v. "fleur-de-lis" (2), which is described as appearing "on the flag and coat of arms of Quebec".
See also Gage-1, s.v. "fleur-de-lys" (3), which is described as relating to Quebec, ITP Nelson, s.v. "fleur-de-lis" (2), which is described as appearing "on the flag and coat of arms of Quebec".
For the general meaning of this word, see OED-3 (s.v. "fleur-de-lis, fleur-de- luce").
Quotations
1849
There it was expected that the old French settlers, who had unwillingly submitted to English conquest, would readily range themselves once more under the fleur-de-lys;
1939
As to the words, they bring in the always true "four signs of value -- the thistle and the fleur-de-lys, the shamrock and the rose."
1977
Merrelle Robson tried to hold her fingers on her hand but was distracted by the lilac fleur-de-lys running over an aquamarine Tom Hawthorn.
1980
A parade of hundreds of cars, all honking horns and many with huge fleur-de-lys flags waving out the windows, slowly weaved its way through the same part of town, drawing cheers of acknowledgement from the crowds on both sides of the street.
1996
When Guy Chevrette, Quebec's Minister of State for Natural Resources and the Minister responsible for Native Affairs and Regional Development, looks out the window here, he smiles: a fleur-de-lys flag flies in the frigid breeze above the half-finished shell of a new Quebec-funded training centre.
2007
The dogwood is the official flower of British Columbia and the fleur de lys, a symbol of the Francophone community, points to the sun.
2015
Quebec's legislature opened its doors on Sunday to allow citizens to pay their last respects to former premier Jacques Parizeau, one of its most famous representatives.
The funeral procession, led by Parizeau's widow Lisette Lapointe, arrived just before 10 a.m. after which the Fleur-delis [sic] draped coffin was brought into the large hall, transformed into a funeral parlour for the day.
2n. — French relations
the name of the Quebec flag.
Quotations
1950
Miss Edla S. Gibson [...] presented three new flags, the Fleur de Lis, the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes, to replace the worn flags which have flown over Fort Niagara since last year's flag day.
1969
Fleur-de-lys tops maple leaf Education Minister Jean-Guy Cardinal has ordered that the Quebec flag be flown higher than the Canadian flag [...]. Reid Tilley, chairman of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal, said the policy was "reasonable" since education is a provincial matter giving some justification for putting the fleur-de-lys in the place of honor.
1979
An example: one of the people in his riding organization is a fanatic Pequiste, constantly waving the fleur-de-lys.
1987
Below that story ran an article (with a photograph of the fleur-de-lis flying at half-staff over the National Assembly) explaining that Mr. Levesque had suffered earlier attacks before his death on Sunday.
1996
Indeed, waving the Fleur-de-lis to make believe they have a country is one of the oldest tricks in the péquistes' book.
References
- OED-3
- Gage-1
- ITP Nelson
Images
![Image 1: <i>Fleur de lys</i>. Source: Wikimedia Commons. <br>Graphic: Gouvernement du Québec [Public domain]](https://dchp3.plotandscatter.work/uploads/entries/11576/2015.11.17_03.30.06_fleur_de_lys.jpg)
Image 1: Fleur de lys. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Graphic: Gouvernement du Québec [Public domain]
