Crape myrtle

Crape 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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  • Crape myrtle — Crape Crape (kr[=a]p), n. [F. cr[^e]pe, fr. L. crispus curled, crisped. See {Crisp}.] A thin, crimped stuff, made of raw silk gummed and twisted on the mill. Black crape is much used for mourning garments, also for the dress of some clergymen.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • crape myrtle — n. an tall East Indian and Chinese shrub ({Lagerstroemia indica} of the loosestrife family, commonly planted in Southern and Western U. S. as an ornamental shrub. It has clusters of red, white, purple, or pink flowers. Syn: crepe myrtle, crepe… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • crape myrtle — ☆ crape myrtle n. [so named because of its crinkled, crepelike flowers] an ornamental shrub (Lagerstroemia indica) of the loosestrife family, widely grown in the S U.S., with usually pinkish flowers …   English World dictionary

  • crape myrtle — indinė krausva statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Raudoklinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Lagerstroemia indica), paplitęs rytų ir pietryčių Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Lagerstroemia indica angl. crape myrtle; crepe myrtle; crepeflower… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • crape myrtle — crape′ or crepe myrtle n. pln a tall, ornamental Chinese shrub, Lagerstroemia indica, of the loosestrife family, having clusters of crinkled pink, purple, or white flowers • Etymology: 1840–50, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • crape myrtle — a tall Chinese shrub, Lagerstroemia indica, of the loosestrife family, having clusters of crinkled red, pink, purple, or white flowers, grown as an ornamental in the southern and western U.S. Also, crepe myrtle. [1840 50, Amer.] * * * Shrub… …   Universalium

  • crape myrtle — noun ornamental shrub from eastern India commonly planted in the southern United States • Syn: ↑crepe myrtle, ↑crepe flower, ↑Lagerstroemia indica • Hypernyms: ↑shrub, ↑bush • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • crape myrtle — noun Date: 1850 an Asian shrub (Lagerstroemia indica) of the loosestrife family widely grown in warm regions for its flowers …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • crape myrtle — noun Any of the genus Lagerstroemia, family Lythraceae, shrubs or small trees, certain of which are ornamental, bearing big gaudy blooms …   Wiktionary

  • Crape myrtle — Lagerstroemia (E) …   EthnoBotanical Dictionary

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