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}.
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 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}.