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Lavender

1. (Science: botany) An aromatic plant of the genus Lavandula (L. Vera), common in the south of Europe. It yields and oil used in medicine and perfumery. The spike lavender (L. Spica) yields a coarser oil (oil of spike), used in the arts.

2. The pale, purplish colour of lavender flowers, paler and more delicate than lilac.

(Science: botany) lavender cotton see marsh rosemary. To lay in lavender. To lay away, as clothing, with sprigs of lavender. To pawn.

Origin: 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.