Etymologically
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laurel

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈlɒɹ.əl/, /ˈlɔːɹ.əl/ (UK); /ˈlɔɹ.əl/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English lorel, a variant by dissimilation of lorer, laurer,[2][3][4][5][6] borrowed from Old French lorier, laurier (“bay tree, laurel tree”),[3][5][7] from lor (“laurel”),[4][8] from Latin laurus (“laurel tree, bay”).[9][2][3][4] The second r changed to l in late Middle English.[3][5][10] The Middle English form was partly also from Medieval Latin laureola, from Latin laureola “small laurel branch”.[9][2][4] The Latin word is probably from a Mediterranean language, perhaps the same source as Ancient Greek δάφνη (dáphnē, “laurel”).[3][5][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The bay tree, Laurus nobilis (before 1300 in the OED, lorrer about 1300 and laurel mid-14th century in Etymonline, laureol 1373 in Barnhart).[11][3][2]

Semantic evolution

The leaves of the bay tree were used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games,[4][7] and laurel foliage became an emblem of victory or of distinction in poetry (c. 1386).[11] Chaucer writes of one “with laurer crowned as a conquerour”.[10] A laurel branch or wreath is recorded from 1429,[11] and the plural laurels, honour won by achievement, as in to win one's laurels, from 1585.[11] The name was later extended to other plants with similar leaves, such as the mountain laurel,[3][9][6] and in Australia to various native trees.[12] The verb, to crown with laurel, dates from 1631.[11][4]

Timeline

  • before 1300 – the bay tree.[11]
  • c. 1386 – the emblem of victory or distinction.[11]
  • 1429 – a laurel wreath.[11]
  • 1585 – laurels, honours won.[11]
  • 1631 – verb, to crown with laurel.[11][4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A Mediterranean evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, with aromatic leaves and small blackish berries; the bay tree.
  2. Any of various trees or shrubs with similar leaves or scent, such as the mountain laurel.
  3. A wreath of laurel given in ancient times as a mark of honour to poets, heroes and victors in athletic contests.
  4. Honour and glory won for great achievement, usually as laurels.

Verb

  1. To crown with laurel.
  2. To honour, especially with an award.

Word family

  • cherry laurel
  • laurel oak
  • Laurence
  • Laura
  • laureate
  • Lauretta
  • lauraceous
  • Lauren
  • laurustinus
  • Daphne
  • bay leaf

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  8. ^ a b Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
  9. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  10. ^ a b Weekley, Ernest (1921), An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, London: John Murray
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  12. ^ Morris, Edward E. (1898), Austral English: A Dictionary of Australasian Words, Phrases and Usages, London: Macmillan