bay2

noun

• 1 (also bay tree, bay laurel, or sweet bay) an evergreen Mediterranean shrub of the laurel family, with deep green leaves and purple berries. Its aromatic leaves are used in cooking and were formerly used to make triumphal crowns for victors.

  • Laurus nobilis, family Lauraceae

• 2a similarly aromatic tree or shrub of North America, especially the bayberry used in the preparation of bay rum.