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Webster 1913 Edition

Lilac

Li′lac

(lī′lak)
,
Noun.
[Also
lilach
.]
[Sp.
lilac
,
lila
, Ar.
līlak
, fr. Per.
līlaj
,
līlanj
,
līlang
,
nīlaj
,
nīl
, the indigo plant, or from the kindred
līlak
bluish, the flowers being named from the color. Cf.
Anil
.]
1.
(Bot.)
A shrub of the genus
Syringa
. There are six species, natives of Europe and Asia.
Syringa vulgaris
, the common lilac, and
Syringa Persica
, the Persian lilac, are frequently cultivated for the fragrance and beauty of their purplish or white flowers. In the British colonies various other shrubs have this name.
2.
A light purplish color like that of the flower of the purplish lilac.
California lilac
(Bot.)
,
a low shrub with dense clusters of purplish flowers (
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
).

Webster 1828 Edition

Lilac

LI'LAC

,
Noun.
A plant or shrub of the genus syringa, a native of Persia. The common lilac is cultivated for its flowers, which are purple or white.

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