Wax myrtle

Wax myrtle
Myrtle Myr"tle (m[~e]r"t'l), n. [F. myrtil bilberry, prop., a little myrtle, from myrte myrtle, L. myrtus, murtus, Gr. my`rtos; cf. Per. m[=u]rd.] (Bot.) A species of the genus {Myrtus}, especially {Myrtus communis}. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem, eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head, thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the beautifully mottled wood is used in turning. [1913 Webster]

Note: The name is also popularly but wrongly applied in America to two creeping plants, the blue-flowered periwinkle and the yellow-flowered moneywort. In the West Indies several myrtaceous shrubs are called myrtle. [1913 Webster]

{Bog myrtle}, the sweet gale.

{Crape myrtle}. See under {Crape}.

{Myrtle warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a North American wood warbler ({Dendroica coronata}); -- called also {myrtle bird}, {yellow-rumped warbler}, and {yellow-crowned warbler}.

{Myrtle wax}. (Bot.) See {Bayberry tallow}, under {Bayberry}.

{Sand myrtle}, a low, branching evergreen shrub ({Leiophyllum buxifolium}), growing in New Jersey and southward.

{Wax myrtle} ({Myrica cerifera}). See {Bayberry}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wax myrtle — Wax Wax, n. [AS. weax; akin to OFries. wax, D. was, G. wachs, OHG. wahs, Icel. & Sw. vax, Dan. vox, Lith. vaszkas, Russ. vosk .] [1913 Webster] 1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wax myrtle — ☆ wax myrtle n. an evergreen bayberry (Myrica cerifera) native to E North America and having grayish white berries coated with a wax used for candles …   English World dictionary

  • wax-myrtle — tikroji vaškuonė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Sotvarinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Morella cerifera), paplitęs Šiaurės ir Pietų Amerikoje. Iš jo gaunamas vaškas. atitikmenys: lot. Morella cerifera angl. bayberry; candleberry; southern… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • wax myrtle — noun Date: 1806 any of a genus (Myrica of the family Myricaceae, the wax myrtle family) of trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage; especially a shrub or small tree (M. cerifera) of the eastern United States having small hard berries with a thick… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • wax-myrtle — karolininė vaškuonė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Sotvarinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Morella caroliniensis), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. Iš jo gaunamas vaškas. atitikmenys: lot. Morella caroliniensis angl. bayberry; candle berry;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • wax myrtle — wax′ myr tle n. pln a bayberry, Myrica cerifera, of the southeastern U.S., having waxy berries used in candlemaking • Etymology: 1800–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • wax myrtle — noun any shrub or small tree of the genus Myrica with aromatic foliage and small wax coated berries • Hypernyms: ↑shrub, ↑bush • Hyponyms: ↑bay myrtle, ↑puckerbush, ↑Myrica cerifera, ↑bayberry, ↑candleb …   Useful english dictionary

  • wax myrtle — an aromatic shrub, Myrica cerifera, of the southeastern U.S., bearing small berries coated with wax that is sometimes used in making candles. Cf. bayberry. [1800 10] * * * …   Universalium

  • wax myrtle — noun An evergreen bayberry, especially the common Myrica cerifera of the southern U.S. The wax covering its nutlets is used for making scented candles …   Wiktionary

  • wax myrtle — /ˈwæks mɜtl/ (say waks mertl) noun a shrub or tree of the genus Myrica, as M. cerifera, which bears small berries coated with wax (sometimes used in making candles, etc.), or M. pensylvanica. Compare bayberry …  

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