from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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Note: The name is extended to other plants which in some
respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
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2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; --
especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.
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3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because
the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.
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{Laurel water}, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the
cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other
products carried over in the process.
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{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}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mountain \Moun"tain\ (moun"t[i^]n), a.
1. Of or pertaining to a mountain or mountains; growing or
living on a mountain; found on or peculiar to mountains;
among mountains; as, a mountain torrent; mountain pines;
mountain goats; mountain air; mountain howitzer.
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2. Like a mountain; mountainous; vast; very great.
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The high, the mountain majesty of worth. --Byron.
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{Mountain antelope} (Zool.), the goral.
{Mountain ash} (Bot.), an ornamental tree, the {Pyrus
Americana} (or {Sorbus Americana}), producing beautiful
bunches of red berries. Its leaves are pinnate, and its
flowers white, growing in fragrant clusters. The European
species is the {Pyrus aucuparia}, or rowan tree.
{Mountain barometer}, a portable barometer, adapted for safe
transportation, used in measuring the heights of
mountains.
{Mountain beaver} (Zool.), the sewellel.
{Mountain blue} (Min.), blue carbonate of copper; azurite.
{Mountain cat} (Zool.), the catamount. See {Catamount}.
{Mountain chain}, a series of contiguous mountain ranges,
generally in parallel or consecutive lines or curves.
{Mountain cock} (Zool.), capercailzie. See {Capercailzie}.
{Mountain cork} (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling
cork in its texture.
{Mountain crystal}. See under {Crystal}.
{Mountain damson} (Bot.), a large tree of the genus
{Simaruba} ({Simaruba amarga}) growing in the West Indies,
which affords a bitter tonic and astringent, sometimes
used in medicine.
{Mountain dew}, Scotch whisky, so called because often
illicitly distilled among the mountains. [Humorous]
{Mountain ebony} (Bot.), a small leguminous tree ({Bauhinia
variegata}) of the East and West Indies; -- so called
because of its dark wood. The bark is used medicinally and
in tanning.
{Mountain flax} (Min.), a variety of asbestus, having very
fine fibers; amianthus. See {Amianthus}.
{Mountain fringe} (Bot.), climbing fumitory. See under
{Fumitory}.
{Mountain goat}. (Zool.) See {Mazama}.
{Mountain green}. (Min.)
(a) Green malachite, or carbonate of copper.
(b) See {Green earth}, under {Green}, a.
{Mountain holly} (Bot.), a branching shrub ({Nemopanthes
Canadensis}), having smooth oblong leaves and red berries.
It is found in the Northern United States.
{Mountain laurel} (Bot.), an American shrub ({Kalmia
latifolia}) with glossy evergreen leaves and showy
clusters of rose-colored or white flowers. The foliage is
poisonous. Called also {American laurel}, {ivy bush}, and
{calico bush}. See {Kalmia}.
{Mountain leather} (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling
leather in its texture.
{Mountain licorice} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Trifolium}
({Trifolium Alpinum}).
{Mountain limestone} (Geol.), a series of marine limestone
strata below the coal measures, and above the old red
standstone of Great Britain. See Chart of {Geology}.
{Mountain linnet} (Zool.), the twite.
{Mountain magpie}. (Zool.)
(a) The yaffle, or green woodpecker.
(b) The European gray shrike.
{Mountain mahogany} (Bot.) See under {Mahogany}.
{Mountain meal} (Min.), a light powdery variety of calcite,
occurring as an efflorescence.
{Mountain milk} (Min.), a soft spongy variety of carbonate of
lime.
{Mountain mint}. (Bot.) See {Mint}.
{Mountain ousel} (Zool.), the ring ousel; -- called also
{mountain thrush} and {mountain colley}. See {Ousel}.
{Mountain pride}, or {Mountain green} (Bot.), a tree of
Jamaica ({Spathelia simplex}), which has an unbranched
palmlike stem, and a terminal cluster of large, pinnate
leaves.
{Mountain quail} (Zool.), the plumed partridge ({Oreortyx
pictus}) of California. It has two long, slender,
plumelike feathers on the head. The throat and sides are
chestnut; the belly is brown with transverse bars of black
and white; the neck and breast are dark gray.
{Mountain range}, a series of mountains closely related in
position and direction.
{Mountain rice}. (Bot.)
(a) An upland variety of rice, grown without irrigation,
in some parts of Asia, Europe, and the United States.
(b) An American genus of grasses ({Oryzopsis}).
{Mountain rose} (Bot.), a species of rose with solitary
flowers, growing in the mountains of Europe ({Rosa
alpina}).
{Mountain soap} (Min.), a soft earthy mineral, of a brownish
color, used in crayon painting; saxonite.
{Mountain sorrel} (Bot.), a low perennial plant ({Oxyria
digyna} with rounded kidney-form leaves, and small
greenish flowers, found in the White Mountains of New
Hampshire, and in high northern latitudes. --Gray.
{Mountain sparrow} (Zool.), the European tree sparrow.
{Mountain spinach}. (Bot.) See {Orach}.
{Mountain tobacco} (Bot.), a composite plant ({Arnica
montana}) of Europe; called also {leopard's bane}.
{Mountain witch} (Zool.), a ground pigeon of Jamaica, of the
genus {Geotrygon}.
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