Emily Dickinson Lexicon

petal (-s), n. [Fr. < ancient L. petal-um, metal plate < Gk 'thin plate, lamina, leaf'.] (webplay: expand, flower, leaf).

1. Soft, delicately colored leaf-like division of a flower's corolla.
2. [Fig.] brightly colored ray of the setting sun.
3. [Fig.] delicate skin; body of a deceased woman.