Lau"rel (?), n. [OE.
lorel, laurer,
lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL.
Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus
Laurus (L.
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. &fist; 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, Kalmia
latifolia. See under Mountain. -- 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,
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.
Quotes From Classical Literature on 'laurel'You can hear pronunciation of the quotes if you click on  . The sound files tend to be pretty big.
 And " you'll still think of him in your pleasures,
In your brief twilight dreams of the past;
In this green laurel spray that he treasures,--
It was plucked where your parting was last;
In this specimen,-- but a small trifle,--
It will do for a pin for your shawl."
( Which, the truth not to wickedly stifle,
Was his last week' s " clean up,"-- and HIS ALL.)
trophy, and fastened on it Acron' s whole suit of armor disposed in
proper form; then he himself, girding his clothes about him, and
crowning his head with a laurel - garland, his hair gracefully
flowing, carried the trophy resting erect upon his right shoulder,
and so marched on, singing songs of triumph, and his whole army
following after, the citizens all receiving him with acclamations
of joy and wonder. The procession of this day was the origin and
model of all after triumphs. But the statues of Romulus in triumph
Veronica and Robina upon this very point. Veronica' s eye had caught
something lying on the grass. I could not myself see what it was, in
consequence of an intervening laurel bush. Veronica stooped down and
examined it with care. The next instant, uttering a piercing whoop,
she leapt into the air; then, clapping her hands, began to dance.
Her face was radiant with a holy joy. Robina, passing near, stopped
and demanded explanation.
face of Washington. A sixth was a nondescript, representing “ a man
with a shirt- collar open,” to use the language of Richard, “ with a
laurel on his head- it was Julius Caesar or Dr. Faustus; there were
good reasons for believing either,”
The walls were hung with a dark lead- colored English paper that
represented Britannia weeping over the tomb of Wolfe, The hero himself
stood at a little distance from the mourning goddess, and at the edge
procession and the bridal train. Beneath the shelter of tents, or of
light booths with walls formed by the skilful interlacing of a green
mass of boughs, through which the myrtle and the laurel spread their
odours, dwelt the fair slaves of the goddess, those whom Pindar
called, in the drinking- song which he composed for Theoxenus of
Corinth, ' the handmaids of persuasion.'"[35] Here and there in the
precincts, sacred processions took their prescribed way; ablutions
were performed; victims led up to the temple; votive offerings hung on
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