I. ˈla-vən-dər noun
Etymology: Middle English lavendre, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin lavandula
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : 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
b. : any of several plants congeneric with true lavender and used similarly but often considered inferior
2. : a pale purple
II. transitive verb
( lav·en·dered ; lav·en·der·ing -d(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 1820
: to sprinkle or perfume with lavender