What is "laurel"

Laurel \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 ( Laurus nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay.

   Note: 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.

   Note: 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; called also calico bush. 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, the Laurelia Nov[ae] Zelandi[ae].

   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.

c.1300, lorrer, from Old French laurier (12c.), from Latin laurus "laurel tree," probably related to Greek daphne "laurel" (for change of d- to l- see lachrymose), probably from a pre-IE Mediterranean language. The change of second -r- to -l- after mid-14c. is by dissimilation. An emblem of victory or of distinction, hence the phrase to rest (originally repose) on one's laurels, first attested 1831.

n. 1 An evergreen shrub, of the genus ''Laurus'', having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils. 2 A crown of laurel. 3 (context figuratively chiefly in the plural English) honor, distinction, fame. 4 An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel

1. n. any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family

2. United States slapstick comedian (born in England) who played the scatterbrained and often tearful member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1890-1965) [syn: Stan Laurel, Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel]

3. [also: laurelling, laurelled]

Laurel may refer to:

Laurel is a unisex given name. The name is of English origin from the Latin Lauras with the meaning referring to the laurel tree. Various names related to Laurel are Laura, Lauren, Lori, and Lorraine. Another related name would be the Germanic Mythology name Lorelie which means "luring rock" and is mentioned in a German legend saying that a maiden named Lorelei, who lives upon a rock in Rhine River, lures fishermen into death by her songs.

Laurel may refer to:

Laurel, originally Franklinville was a station stop along the Greenport Branch of the Long Island Rail Road in Laurel, New York.

Laurel Arnell-Cullen, better known as just Laurel, is a British chamber pop and indie musician from Southampton but since 2013 has been based in London. Laurel has gotten critical acclaim for writing, recording and producing all her music in her bedroom studio in London.

The Laurel was the third English gold coin with a value of twenty shillings or one pound produced during the reign of King James I. It was named after the laurel that the king is portrayed as wearing on his head, but it is considerably poorer in both quality and style than the Sovereign and Unite which preceded it. The coin was produced during James I's third coinage (1619-1625), five different busts of the king being used in these years. All the coins were produced at the Tower Mint in London. The laurel weighed 140.5 grains (9.1 grams or just under 0.3 troy ounce), less than the previous Unite but almost exactly the same as the Unite issued under Charles I.

The earlier busts show considerably more detail of the king, who is looking to the left of the coin and has the value "XX" to the right, behind the kings' head. The legend on the obverse reads IACOBUS D G MAG BRI FRA ET HIB REX -- James by the grace of God, of Britain France and Ireland King. The reverse shows a long cross over a crowned shield which shows the arms of the four countries, and the legend FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM UNAM ("I will make them one nation", from Ezekiel 37:22)

Laurel is a surname which may refer to:

• Alicia Bay Laurel (born 1949), American artist, author and musician
• Arsenio Laurel (1931–1967), Filipino race car driver, son of José P. Laurel
• Brenda Laurel, an advocate for girl video game development
• José P. Laurel (1891–1959), former President of the Philippines
• Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (born 1966), Annobonese writer from Spanish Guinea (now Equatorial Guinea)
• Oscar M. Laurel (1920–2001), Hispanic-American attorney, businessman and politician
• Rajo Laurel (born 1971), Filipino fashion designer
• Salvador Laurel (1928–2004), former Vice-President of the Philippines, son of José P. Laurel
• Sotero Laurel (1918–2009), Filipino politician, older brother of Salvador Laurel
• Stan Laurel (1890–1965), half of the comic duo Laurel and Hardy