from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Myrtle \Myr"tle\ (m[~e]r"t'l), n. [F. myrtil bilberry, prop., a
little myrtle, from myrte myrtle, L. myrtus, murtus, Gr.
my`rtos; cf. Per. m[=u]rd.] (Bot.)
A species of the genus {Myrtus}, especially {Myrtus
communis}. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem,
eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head,
thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It
has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by
black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it
sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used
variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the
beautifully mottled wood is used in turning.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The name is also popularly but wrongly applied in
America to two creeping plants, the blue-flowered
periwinkle and the yellow-flowered moneywort. In the
West Indies several myrtaceous shrubs are called
myrtle.
[1913 Webster]
{Bog myrtle}, the sweet gale.
{Crape myrtle}. See under {Crape}.
{Myrtle warbler} (Zool.), a North American wood warbler
({Dendroica coronata}); -- called also {myrtle bird},
{yellow-rumped warbler}, and {yellow-crowned warbler}.
{Myrtle wax}. (Bot.) See {Bayberry tallow}, under {Bayberry}.
{Sand myrtle}, a low, branching evergreen shrub ({Leiophyllum
buxifolium}), growing in New Jersey and southward.
{Wax myrtle} ({Myrica cerifera}). See {Bayberry}.
[1913 Webster]