n. 1 any shrub or small tree of the genus Corylus, esp. c. avellana bearing round brown edible nuts. 2 a wood from the hazel. b a stick made of this. 3 a reddish-brown or greenish-brown colour (esp. of the eyes). hazel-grouse a woodland grouse, Tetrastes bonasia.
[ OE hsel f. Gmc ]