hazel

plural hazels · alternative archaic hazle

1. countableusuallyA tree or shrub of the genus Corylus, bearing edible nuts called hazelnuts or filberts.

   The green turf was velvet underfoot. The blackbirds fluted in the hazels there.

   1895, S. R. Crockett, A Cry Across the Black Water

   1 more example

   Have a tree or two the witches particularly like, such as the alder, larch, cypress and hemlock; then, to counteract any possible evil effects, there must be a holly, yew, hazel, elder, mountain ash or juniper.

   1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 273

2. countableusuallyThe nut of the hazel tree.

   Synonyms: filbert, hazelnut

3. uncountableusuallyThe wood of a hazelnut tree.
4. countableuncountableusuallyA greenish-brown colour, the colour of a ripe hazelnut.
5. countableusuallybusinessFreestone.

comparative more hazel · comparative rare hazeler · superlative most hazel · rare superlative hazelest · alternative archaic hazle

1. Of a greenish-brown colour. (often used to refer to eye colour)

   Doolittle had the hazelest eyeballs, the winsomest spinal pelt.

   2011, Margaret Fiske, “Sense & Circuitry: Cyberth 1813”, in Peter Archer, Jennifer Lawler, editors, Bad Austen: The Worst Stories Jane Never Wrote, Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, F+W Media, Inc., →ISBN, part 2 (If Jane Could See Us Now), page 96

   5 more examples

   As she grew up and her hazel eyes became hazeler and her dark hair darker and her white skin whiter, and her form a sigh on every boy’s lips, she concentrated on one dream.

   1956 January 7, James L. Collings, “Syndicates: Oh Marie! Whatta Gal and Whatta Reporter”, in Robert U[tting] Brown, editor, Editor & Publisher, volume 89, number 1, New York, N.Y.: Editor & Publisher Co., Inc., →ISSN, page 40, column 1

   The shrewd eyes, more hazel than her son’s but with the same straight brows, were fixed on Clary’s face.

   1986, Robyn Donald, chapter 4, in A Willing Surrender, London: Mills & Boon Limited, →ISBN, page 81

   SAGE: Don’t my eyes look hazeler? (or: periwinkler) / CHLO: (as GARTH) Yes. / SAGE: You said you loved my hazel eyes. (or: periwinkle) Don’t you love them more hazely? (or: periwinkly)

   1996, Adryan Russ, Doug Haverty, “Act Two”, in Inside Out, New York, N.Y.: Samuel French, Inc., →ISBN, page 58

   The drummer’s eyes took the small woman in slowly, starting with her face, down to her feet and then back up into the hazelest eyes she’d ever seen.

   2005, Sharon Smith, chapter 2, in Into the Dark, Nederland, Tex.: Yellow Rose Books, →ISBN, page 12

   What’s that line on “Hazel Eyes”: “I’ve never seen a set of eyes more hazeler”? [Justin Hawkins:] “I’ve never seen a set of eyes more hazelerer.”

   2005 December, Doug Brod, “Burning Sensation”, in Sia Michel, editor, Spin, volume 21, number 12, New York, N.Y., →ISSN, page 73, column 2

plural Hazels · alternative Hasell · alternative Hazell

1. countableuncountableA female given name from English from the plant or colour hazel. Popular in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century.

   In the month of May, When all nature seems in touch with hidden jewels, We called her Hazel, Hazel May.

   1908, S. Florence Ray, Fallen Petals, page 17

   2 more examples

   GREEN. - - Squire Rodney has been looking into your affairs, and, by Jove! he swears you've deceived Hazel Kirke! ARTHUR. Deceived her? How? GREEN. He says that your marriage to her was a pretence, a farce, a lie.

   1880, Steele MacKaye, Hazel Kirke ( An Iron Will)

   Now, as I mentioned earlier, I never liked the name Hazel. I didn't like being called after a nut. I wanted to be called Rosemary, something pretty.

   2002, Susan Starbuck, Hazel Wolf: Fighting the Establishment., →ISBN, page 26

2. countableuncountableA topographic surname from Middle English for someone who lived near a hazel tree.
3. A place in the United States:
   1. countableuncountableA minor city in Calloway County, Kentucky.
   2. countableuncountableA town in Hamlin County, South Dakota.
   3. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Snohomish County, Washington.
   4. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Wetzel County, West Virginia.