LAVENDER

I. noun Etymology: Middle English lavendre, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin lavandula Date: 13th century 1. a Mediterranean mint ( Lavandula angustifolia syn. L. officinalis ) widely cultivated for its narrow aromatic leaves and spikes of lilac-purple flowers which are dried and used in sachets and from which is extracted an aromatic oil used chiefly in perfumery, any of several plants congeneric with true ~ and used similarly but often considered inferior, a pale purple, II. transitive verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: 1820 to sprinkle or perfume with ~