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The Collaborative International Dictionary
daffadowndilly

Daffodil \Daf"fo*dil\ (d[a^]f"f[-o]*d[i^]l), n. [OE. affodylle, prop., the asphodel, fr. LL. affodillus (cf. D. affodille or OF. asphodile, aphodille, F. asphod[`e]le), L. asphodelus, fr. Gr. 'asfo`delos. The initial d in English is not satisfactorily explained. See Asphodel.] (Bot.)

  1. A plant of the genus Asphodelus.

  2. A plant of the genus Narcissus ( Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus). It has a bulbous root and beautiful flowers, usually of a yellow hue. Called also daffodilly, daffadilly, daffadowndilly, daffydowndilly, etc.

    With damask roses and daffadillies set.
    --Spenser.

    Strow me the ground with daffadowndillies, And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies.
    --Spenser.

    A college gown That clad her like an April daffodilly.
    --Tennyson

    And chance-sown daffodil.
    --Whittier.

Wiktionary
daffadowndilly

n. (context archaic poetic English) daffodil

Usage examples of "daffadowndilly".

Diaphenia like the daffadowndilly, White as the sun, fair as the lily, Heigh ho, how do I love thee!

Diaphenia like the daffadowndilly Doth then the world go thus, doth all thus move?

Dew lay heavy on the grass, as the dainty heels of my captresses testified, yet they trod lightly upon daisies wide-open to the blue sky, while daffadowndillies stooped in a silence broken only by their laughter.