n. [ OE. gilofre, gilofer, clove, OF. girofre, girofle, F. girofle: cf. F. giroflée gillyflower, fr. girofle, Gr. &unr_; clove tree; &unr_; nut + &unr_; 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 ]