lily-white

English

adj
Definitions
  • A shade of the color white.
  • Pure, unblemished, immaculate.
  • Innocent, having a reputation beyond reproach.
  • (slang) Caucasian; white.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English liliwhite affix from English lily + English white (a white-skinned person, bright and colorless).

Origin

English

white

Gloss

a white-skinned person, bright and colorless

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms