CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, AND PINKS 53 



caryophyllus. (Some authorities have suggested that 

 Carnation itself is a corruption of caryophyllus, but this 

 cannot be accepted). If the objection is raised that 

 Gillyflower is very different from caryophyllus, it may be 

 replied that Gillyflower is a comparatively modern form 

 of the word ; older forms are gillyvor and gilofre. 

 Chaucer speaks of the "clow gilofre" with 



" Notemuge to put in ale 

 Whether it be moist or stale." 



Some writers think that he had the dried flower-buds 

 (commercial cloves) of the Clove Tree in view here, 

 since he speaks of nutmeg and other spices. Carnation 

 flowers were, however, used to flavour wine and beer, 

 and hence the name Sops-in-wine. In Blount's Antient 

 Tenures " July-flower wine" is referred to, and writers 

 are not wanting who declare that Gillyflower is simply a 

 corruption of July flower. The correct explanation is 

 probably as above. 



The name Picotee comes from the French picote, 

 " pricked " or " marked," and was applied to flowers with 

 colour marks on the edge. Our modern Picotees are 

 really Carnations in which the colour runs round the 

 edge of the flower, sometimes in a thin line, sometimes 

 in a broad band. Picotees are classified by the depth of 

 the edging. 



Pinks. The origin of the name "Pink" would be 

 sought naturally in the colour ; it would be assumed that 

 the first flower which bore this name was pink in hue, 

 and that the flower would be called, therefore, the Pink, 

 i.e. the pink Gillyflower. The reverse is the case ; it is 

 the colour that comes from the flower. 



According to that careful authority, Dr. Prior, Pink 

 comes from Pentecost through the German word Pink- 



