rosebay

American  

[rohz-bey] / ˈroʊzˌbeɪ /

noun

1. any of several rhododendrons, as the great laurel of eastern North America or Rhododendron macrophyllum, of the west coast of North America.

2. British. the willow herb, Epilobium angustifolium.

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rosebay British  

/ ˈrəʊzˌbeɪ /

noun

1. any of several rhododendrons, esp Rhododendron maximum of E North America

2. a perennial onagraceous plant, Chamerion (formerly Epilobium ) angustifolium , that has spikes of deep pink flowers and is widespread in open places throughout N temperate regions

3. another name for oleander

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Etymology

Origin of rosebay

First recorded in 1540–50; rose ¹ + bay ⁴

Example Sentences

Fields of rosebay willow herb, statuesque and hazy pink, put a pop of color into the otherwise gray day.

From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2021

We pulled fistfuls of rosebay willow, yarrow and lady’s mantle.

From Washington Post • Jul. 25, 2019

From the ubiquitous white yarrow to the purple harebell to the wonderfully named yellow blooms of "lady's bedstraw" to the creeping thistle to the tall rosebay willow herb, they color the landscape.

From Golf Digest • Oct. 16, 2013

Dripping coolly onto her sandaled feet, the untidy bunch of rosebay willow herb and irises brought her to a better state of mind.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

They had tumbled into their own symmetry, and it was certainly true that too even a distribution between the irises and the rosebay willow herb ruined the effect.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan