PRIVET

privet

(noun) any of various Old World shrubs having smooth entire leaves and terminal panicles of small white flowers followed by small black berries; many used for hedges

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

privet (countable and uncountable, plural privets)

Any of various shrubs and small trees in the genus Ligustrum.

Etymology 2

Interjection

privet

(informal) hello, hi

Source: Wiktionary


Priv"et, n. Etym: [Cf. Scot. privie, Prov. E. prim-print, primwort. Prob. for primet, and perh. named from being cut and trimmed. See, Prim, a., and cf. Prime to prune, Prim, n., Prie, n.] (Bot.)

Definition: An ornamental European shrub (Ligustrum vulgare), much used in hedges; -- called also prim. Egyptian privet. See Lawsonia.

– Evergreen privet, a plant of the genus Rhamnus. See Alatern.

– Mock privet, any one of several evergreen shrubs of the genus Phillyrea. They are from the Mediterranean region, and have been much cultivated for hedges and for fancifully clipped shrubberies.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 February 2025

ANALYSIS

(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., ‘the father of the bride’ instead of ‘the bride’s father’


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