1. n.1 a a dried flower-bud of a tropical plant, Eugenia aromatica, used as a pungent aromatic spice. b this plant.
2 (in full clove gillyflower or clove pink) a clove-scented pink, Dianthus caryophyllus, the original of the carnation and other double pinks.
Etymology: ME f. OF clou (de girofle) nail (of gillyflower), from its shape, GILLYFLOWER being orig. the name of the spice; later applied to the similarly scented pink 2. n. any of the small bulbs making up a compound bulb of garlic, shallot, etc.
Etymology: OE clufu, rel. to CLEAVE(1) 3. past of CLEAVE(1).