Also 7 frit(t)ell-. [mod.L. fritillāria, f. fritillus dice-box.
According to Clusius, Rariorum aliquot Stirpium per Pannon. etc. observ. Hist. (1583), 172, the name was given by Noel Capperon, a druggist of Orleans, to the Common Fritillary, ‘quod ejus areolæ versicolores fritillum quodammodo æmulentur.’ Unless this refers to some chequered pattern with which dice-boxes were painted, Gerarde’s explanation below would seem to be correct, though the Lat. dicts. of the 16th c. and still earlier give the correct explanation of fritillus. In any case the name refers to the chequered markings of the corolla, not to its shape as is usually stated.]
A genus of liliaceous plants, the best known species of which are the CROWN IMPERIAL (F. imperialis), and the Common Fritillary or Snakeshead (F. Meleagris) found locally in moist meadows.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. lii. 214. The third [Tulipa] is called … Flos Meleagris … some do also cal this flower Fritillaria.
1597. Gerard, Herball, 123. It hath been called Frittillaria, of the table or boord vpon which men plaie at chesse, which square checkers the flower doth very much resemble, some thinking that it [the chess-board] was named Frittillus.
1611. Tradescant’s bill, in A. Amherst, Gard. Eng. (1895), 170. Fortye fritellarias at 3 pence the peece.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Gardens (Arb.), 555–6. For the latter Part of Ianuary, and February,… Camaïris; Frettellaria.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 198. March … Violets, Fritillaria.
1737. Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. iii 378. Bulbous-rooted Flowers as do not succeed well if their Roots are kept too long out of the Ground, such as the Narcissus, Dens canis, Saffron, Cyclamen, Fritillaria’s, and Colchicum.
1881. Miss Braddon, Asph., II. ii. 40. Here grew … primroses; anemones; hyacinths; and the rare fritillaria.
