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).
Phrases and idioms:
hazel-grouse a woodland grouse, Tetrastes bonasia.
Etymology: OE h{aelig}sel f. Gmc