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Glite Dictionary
leper lily

leper lily

9.9
A plant with nodding bell-shaped flowers that are often purple and checkered
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛpər ˈlɪli/
  • UK
translation icon : lirio de leproso
  • The leper lily blooms in early spring, adding a touch of elegance to the garden with its checkered petals.

Examples

  • Gardeners often choose the leper lily for shady spots because of its unique, nodding flowers.

  • The medieval legend says the leper lily was named for its resemblance to the bells carried by lepers.

  • The leper lily blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Many gardeners love the unique look of leper lilies.

  • Gardeners often choose the leper lily for shady spots because of its unique, nodding flowers.

  • The leper lily blooms in early spring, adding a touch of elegance to the garden with its checkered petals.

  • The medieval legend says the leper lily was named for its resemblance to the bells carried by lepers.

Synonyms

Fritillaria meleagris
vsleper lily
  • Specialized
9.9

A small European lily with bell-shaped purple or maroon checkered flowers

is the everyday ornamental name that evokes medieval bell carriers
snake's head fritillary
vsleper lily
9.9

A spring bulb flower with hanging checkered purple or maroon petals

is the name that evokes medieval bell carriers rather than region
checkered lily
vsleper lily
  • US
9.9

A plant with bell-shaped flowers that hang down and show a checkered pattern

is the ornamental name highlighting a historical bell-carrying image
checkered daffodil
vsleper lily
  • US
9.9

A garden flower with hanging bell-shaped petals patterned with purple checks

is the traditional name referring to medieval bell carriers not flowers
guinea-hen flower
vsleper lily
9.8

A garden plant with hanging bell-shaped flowers that are purple and white in a checkered pattern

is the ornamental name that recalls medieval bell carriers rather than birds

Surface Forms

leper lily singular
leper lilies plural

Morphology

leper + lily

The noun phrase is compositionally transparent: a B1 learner who knows 'leper' and 'lily' can infer this refers to a type of lily associated with lepers (i.e. a lily named for or linked to lepers). While the detailed botanical identity and historical explanation are not predictable from the parts, the basic denotation 'a kind of lily related to lepers' is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Leper lily comes from a story long ago: people thought the plant's nodding, checkered flowers looked like the small bells that lepers once carried. So the name links the plant to that image and now means this kind of lily.