'California laurel' definitions:

Definition of 'California laurel'

From: WordNet
noun
Pacific coast tree having aromatic foliage and small umbellate flowers followed by olivelike fruit; yields a hard tough wood [syn: California laurel, California bay tree, Oregon myrtle, pepperwood, spice tree, sassafras laurel, California olive, mountain laurel, Umbellularia californica]

Definition of 'California laurel'

From: GCIDE
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially in the plural; as, to win laurels. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel. [1913 Webster]
  • Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in the process. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]