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Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[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

. to wash, and cf.

(Bot.)

An aromatic plant of the genus

Lavandula

(

Lavandula vera

), common in the south of Europe. It yields and oil used in medicine and perfumery. The

Spike lavender

(

Lavandula Spica

) yields a coarser oil (oil of spike), used in the arts.

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

Noun.

[L. lavendula.] A plant, or a genus of aromatic plants, Lavandula.