sweet bay

noun

1. laurel ( def 1 ).
2. an American magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, having large oblong leaves and fragrant, white flowers, common on the Atlantic coast.

sweet bay

noun

1. a small tree, Magnolia virginiana, of SE North America, having large fragrant white flowers: family Magnoliaceae (magnolias) Sometimes shortened tobay

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweet bay¹

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

A flatbed trailer was loaded with scores of potted native trees: Shumard oak, yellow poplar, persimmon, Eastern red cedar, sweet bay magnolia.

From Seattle Times

There, picnic in Olympic Forest, surrounded by Egyptian date palms and Greek sweet bay trees.

From Los Angeles Times

The sweet bay likes full or partial sun, and has been responding well to intuitive-style watering when its soil looks dry.

From Seattle Times

In the meantime, it’s the “Garden of Questions,” an inviting labyrinth of herbs — made of passages lined with sweet bay, myrtle, lavender and marjoram — that walks visitors through an explanation of Jewish dietary laws.

From Washington Post

I froze amid the dripping white oaks and sweet bay magnolias.

From New York Times