lavender

lavender
lavender (n.) "fragrant plant of the mint family," c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. lavendre, O.Fr. lavendre, from M.L. lavendula "lavender" (10c.), perhaps from L. lividus "bluish, livid." Associated with Fr. lavande, It. lavanda "a washing" (from L. lavare "to wash;" see LAVE (Cf. lave)) because it was used to scent washed fabrics and as a bath perfume. (An identical M.E. word meant "laundress, washerwoman;" also, apparently, "prostitute, whore; camp follower" and is attested as a surname from early 13c.). The adjective meaning "pale purple color" is from 1840.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Lavender — Lav en*der, n. [OE. lavendre, F. lavande, It. lavanda lavender, a washing, fr. L. lavare to wash; cf. It. lsavendola, LL. lavendula. So called because it was used in bathing and washing. See {Lave}. to wash, and cf. {Lavender}.] 1. (Bot.) An… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lavender — [lav′ən dər] n. [ME < Anglo Fr lavendre < ML lavandria, akin to lavendula (> Ger lavendel) < L lavare, to wash (see LAVE1): from use as bath perfume] 1. any of a genus (Lavandula) of fragrant European plants of the mint family, having …   English World dictionary

  • lavender — adj. V. «copia lavender» …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Lavender — f English (rare): from the vocabulary word denoting the herb with sweet smelling flowers (Old French lavendre, from Late Latin lavendula) …   First names dictionary

  • lavender — ► NOUN 1) a small aromatic evergreen shrub of the mint family, with narrow leaves and bluish purple flowers. 2) a pale blue colour with a trace of mauve. ORIGIN Latin lavandula …   English terms dictionary

  • Lavender — This article is about the genus of flowering plants. For other uses, see Lavender (disambiguation). Lavender Lavender flowers with bracts exhibiting a good example of the color lavender Scientific …   Wikipedia

  • lavender — /lav euhn deuhr/, n. 1. a pale bluish purple. 2. any Old World plant or shrub belonging to the genus Lavandula, of the mint family, esp. L. angustifolia, having spikes of fragrant, pale purple flowers. 3. the dried flowers or other parts of this… …   Universalium

  • Lavender — Recorded as Lavandar and more usually Lavender, this is an English surname, but one of early French origins. Introduced by the Normans after the famous Conquest of 1066 it is occupational. It derives from the word lavandier , and was applied… …   Surnames reference

  • lavender — I UK [ˈlævəndə(r)] / US [ˈlævəndər] noun Word forms lavender : singular lavender plural lavenders [countable/uncountable] a plant with small purple flowers that smell nice a) [uncountable] dried flowers from a lavender plant, used for example in… …   English dictionary

  • lavender — tikroji levanda statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Notrelinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, medingas, vaistinis augalas (Lavandula angustifolia), paplitęs pietų Europoje. Iš jo gaunamas eterinis aliejus. atitikmenys: lot. Lavandula angustifolia;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

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