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Webster 1913 Edition
Laurel
Lau′rel
,Noun.
[OE.
lorel
, laurer
, lorer
, OF. lorier
, laurier
, F. laurier
, (assumed) LL. Laurarius
, fr. L. laurus
.] 1.
(Bot.)
An evergreen shrub, of the genus
Laurus
(Laurus nobilis
), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; – called also sweet bay
. The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce.
☞ The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
2.
A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; – especially in the plural;
as, to win
. laurels
3.
An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king’s head on it was crowned with laurel.
Laurel water
, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in the process.
American laurel
, or Mountain laurel
California laurel
, Umbellularia Californica
. Cherry laurel
(in England called
– laurel
). See under Cherry
. Great laurel
, the rosebay (
– Rhododendron maximum
). Ground laurel
, trailing arbutus.
– New Zealand laurel
, the
– Laurelia Novæ Zelandiæ
. Portugal laurel
, the
– Prunus Lusitanica
. Rose laurel
, the oleander. See
– Oleander
. Sheep laurel
, a poisonous shrub,
– Kalmia angustifolia
, smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and redder flowers. Spurge laurel
, Daphne Laureola
. West Indian laurel
, Prunus occidentalis
.Webster 1828 Edition
Laurel
LAU'REL
,Noun.
The bay-tree or Laurus, a genus of plants of several species.