ligustrum

[ li-guhs-truhm ]

noun

1. any of various shrubs or trees belonging to the genus Ligustrum, of the olive family, comprising the privets.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ligustrum¹

< New Latin (Linnaeus); Latin: privet

Example Sentences

It plays its home games between two long rows of privet Ligustrum, or, for easier pronunciation, “hedges,” and not “shrubs.”

From Washington Post

A great variety of shrubs grow on these slopes of the western Caucasus, chiefly the following species, several of which are indigenous—Rhododendron ponticum, Azalea pontica, Aristotelia maqui, Agave 551 americana, Cephalaria tatarica, Coloneaster pyracantha, Citrus aurantium, Diospyros ebenum, Ficus carica, Illicium anisatum, Ligustrum caucasicum, Punica granatum, Philadelphus coronarius, Pyrus salicifolia, Rhus cotinus and six species of Viburnum.

From Project Gutenberg

The best of the larger growing evergreens to use under trees are Laurels, both common and Portugal, Yews, Box, Osmanthus, Aucubas, Phillyr�as, common and oval-leaved Privet, Ligustrum sinense, and Rhododendron ponticum.

From Project Gutenberg

Ligustrum ovalifolium, ovalifolium elegantissimum, and vulgare.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus in a Nominale of the fifteenth century we have "hoc ligustrum, a Primerose;" and in a Pictorial Vocabulary of the same date we have "hoc ligustrum, Ace a Prymrose;" and in the "Promptorium Parvulorum," "Prymerose, primula, calendula, ligustrum"—and this name for the Privet lasted with a slight alteration into Shakespeare's time.

From Project Gutenberg