Origin of Names 79 



According to another account the name "Fleur-de- 

 lis" owes its origin to the circumstance that, according 

 to the account, a ford over the river Lys in Flanders 

 was indicated to a French King, when hard pressed 

 by his enemies, by the abundance of a yellow flowered 

 water-loving species of Iris on the low marshy bank — 

 Fleur-de-Lys, Flower of the river Lys. 



Some find the origin of the name in "delice", French 

 for "delight" — Fleur-delice, Flower of delight. 



Strow me the ground with daffodowndillies, 

 And cowshps, and kingcups and loved Hlies; 



The pretty paunce, 



And the chevisaunce, 

 Shall match with the fair Flow'r delice. 



Spenser: Shepherd's Calendar. 



Others find its origin in "lueur", French for 

 "light" — Fluer-de-lueur, Flower of light. 



FLAG. — By some it is said that the name "Flag" 

 was given to these plants on account of their flat 

 leaves which sway in the wind. Another version is 

 that the three drooping segments of the flower were 

 called "flags" because like flags they flutter in every 

 breeze, and that from this circumstance the name, 

 in time, was given to the plant itself. 



