laurel

What it means

1. countableuncountableAn evergreen shrub of species Laurus nobilis, having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils.

   Laurel leaves were used in the Orient to promote amatory exercise.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 136

2. countableuncountableA crown of laurel.
3. countablefigurativelyin pluraluncountableHonor, distinction, fame.

   to win laurels

   2 more examples

   to crown with laurels

   I was semi-famous; I had been something, but as one worthy critic remarked: past laurels fade fast.

   2017, Fiona Lewis, Mistakes Were Made (Some in French), Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 3

In a sentence

Laurel leaves were used in the Orient to promote amatory exercise.

1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 136

Where it comes from

1. Latinlaurus“laurel”
2. Vulgar Latin*laurārius
3. Old Frenchlorier
4. Anglo-Normanlorer
5. Middle Englishlaurer
6. Englishlaurel

Inherited from Middle English laurer, laurel, from Anglo-Norman lorer, from Old French lorier, from Vulgar Latin *laurārius, from Latin laurus (“laurel”). Doublet of loureiro.