Lavender \Lav"en*der\, n. [OE. lavendre, F. lavande, It. lavanda lavender, a washing, fr. L. lavare to wash; cf. It. lsavendola, LL. lavendula. So called because it was used in bathing and washing. See Lave. to wash, and cf. Lavender.]

1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Lavandula (L. vera), common in the south of Europe. It yields and oil used in medicine and perfumery. The Spike lavender (L. Spica) yields a coarser oil (oil of spike), used in the arts.

2. The pale, purplish color of lavender flowers, paler and more delicate than lilac.

Lavender cotton (Bot.), a low, twiggy, aromatic shrub (Santolina Cham[ae]cyparissus) of the Mediterranean region, formerly used as a vermifuge, etc., and still used to keep moths from wardrobes. Also called ground cypress.

Lavender water, a perfume composed of alcohol, essential oil of lavender, essential oil of bergamot, and essence of ambergris.

Sea lavender. (Bot.) See Marsh rosemary.

To lay in lavender.
   (a) To lay away, as clothing, with sprigs of lavender.
   (b) To pawn. [Obs.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)