myrtle

¹

[ mur-tl ]

noun

1. any plant of the genus Myrtus, especially M. communis, a shrub of southern Europe having evergreen leaves, fragrant white flowers, and aromatic berries: anciently held sacred to Venus and used as an emblem of love. Compare myrtle family.
2. any of certain unrelated plants, as the periwinkle, Vinca minor, and California laurel, Umbellularia californica.
3. Also called myr·tle·wood [mur, -tl-w, oo, d]. the hard, golden-brown wood of the California laurel.
4. Also called myrtle green. dark green with bluish tinge.

Myrtle

²

[ mur-tl ]

noun

1. a female given name.

myrtle

/ ˈmɜːtəl /

noun

1. any evergreen shrub or tree of the myrtaceous genus Myrtus, esp M. communis, a S European shrub with pink or white flowers and aromatic blue-black berries
2. short for crape myrtle
3. bog myrtle another name for sweet gale
4. creeping myrtle or trailing myrtle
   another name for periwinkle 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of myrtle¹

1350–1400; Middle English mirtile < Medieval Latin myrtillus, equivalent to Latin myrt ( us ) (< Greek mýrtos ) + New Latin -illus diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of myrtle¹

C16: from Medieval Latin myrtilla, from Latin myrtus, from Greek murtos

Example Sentences

Tree varieties include Eureka lemon, pink guava, Golden Delicious apple, coast live oak, olive, crape myrtle, California sycamore, desert willow and torrey pines.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead of his sword, he swung a young myrtle branch that whipped across my shoulders.

From Literature

Rosemary is among the easiest, and Eugenia myrtifolia, a myrtle relative, is pretty fast and cooperative.

From Seattle Times

The city’s landscape, from verdant hillside to winding canyon, is flecked with diverse plantings, like coral trees, gum myrtles, and, of course, the tree that has come to symbolize Los Angeles: the palm.

From New York Times

Not only does wax myrtle take well to hedging, but the plant also provides winter berries and shelter for birds year-round.

From Seattle Times