from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hazel \Ha"zel\ (h[=a]"z'l), n. [OE. hasel, AS. h[ae]sel; akin to
D. hazelaar, G. hazel, OHG. hasal, hasala, Icel. hasl, Dan &
Sw. hassel, L. corylus, for cosylus.]
1. (Bot.) A shrub or small tree of the genus {Corylus}, as
the {Corylus avellana}, bearing a nut containing a kernel
of a mild, farinaceous taste; the filbert. The American
species are {Corylus Americana}, which produces the common
hazelnut, and {Corylus rostrata}. See {Filbert}. --Gray.
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2. A miner's name for freestone. --Raymond.
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{Hazel earth}, soil suitable for the hazel; a fertile loam.
{Hazel grouse} (Zool.), a European grouse ({Bonasa
betulina}), allied to the American ruffed grouse.
{Hazel hoe}, a kind of grub hoe.
{Witch hazel}. See {Witch-hazel}, and {Hamamelis}.
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