4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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}  ({L. 
  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. 
 
  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  laurel 
  n  :  any  of  various  aromatic  trees  of  the  laurel  family 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Laurel,  DE  (town,  FIPS  41310) 
  Location:  38.55496  N,  75.57307  W 
  Population  (1990):  3226  (1322  housing  units) 
  Area:  3.7  sq  km  (land),  0.2  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  19956 
  Laurel,  FL  (CDP,  FIPS  39600) 
  Location:  27.14255  N,  82.46241  W 
  Population  (1990):  8245  (4827  housing  units) 
  Area:  12.6  sq  km  (land),  2.2  sq  km  (water) 
  Laurel,  IA  (city,  FIPS  43680) 
  Location:  41.88375  N,  92.92133  W 
  Population  (1990):  271  (116  housing  units) 
  Area:  0.7  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  50141 
  Laurel,  IN  (town,  FIPS  42372) 
  Location:  39.50159  N,  85.18836  W 
  Population  (1990):  544  (218  housing  units) 
  Area:  0.6  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  47024 
  Laurel,  MD  (city,  FIPS  45900) 
  Location:  39.09775  N,  76.85855  W 
  Population  (1990):  19438  (9049  housing  units) 
  Area:  8.2  sq  km  (land),  0.1  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  20707,  20723,  20724 
  Laurel,  MS  (city,  FIPS  39640) 
  Location:  31.69369  N,  89.14466  W 
  Population  (1990):  18827  (8381  housing  units) 
  Area:  39.9  sq  km  (land),  0.9  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  39440 
  Laurel,  MT  (city,  FIPS  42700) 
  Location:  45.67403  N,  108.77171  W 
  Population  (1990):  5686  (2596  housing  units) 
  Area:  4.8  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  59044 
  Laurel,  NE  (city,  FIPS  26350) 
  Location:  42.42798  N,  97.09404  W 
  Population  (1990):  981  (462  housing  units) 
  Area:  2.4  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  68745 
  Laurel,  NY  (CDP,  FIPS  41465) 
  Location:  40.97529  N,  72.55362  W 
  Population  (1990):  1094  (641  housing  units) 
  Area:  8.7  sq  km  (land),  0.2  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  11948 
  Laurel,  VA  (CDP,  FIPS  44280) 
  Location:  37.63387  N,  77.50695  W 
  Population  (1990):  13011  (5771  housing  units) 
  Area:  14.7  sq  km  (land),  0.1  sq  km  (water) 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  LAUREL,  n.  The  _laurus_,  a  vegetable  dedicated  to  Apollo,  and 
  formerly  defoliated  to  wreathe  the  brows  of  victors  and  such  poets  as 
  had  influence  at  court.  (_Vide  supra._) 
 
 

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