online medical dictionary | definition of lavender

1. <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.

<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.

(01 Mar 1998)