Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Laurel \Lau"rel\, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier,
   laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.]
   1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus {Laurus} ({L.
      nobilis}), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape,
      with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their
      axils; -- called also {sweet bay}.

   Note: The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the
         Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks
         to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later
         period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of
         laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an
         aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce.

   Note: The name is extended to other plants which in some
         respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.

   2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; --
      especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.

   3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because
      the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.

   {Laurel water}, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the
      cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other
      products carried over in the process.

   {American laurel}, or {Mountain laurel}, {Kalmia latifolia}.
      See under {Mountain}.

   {California laurel}, {Umbellularia Californica}.

   {Cherry laurel} (in England called {laurel}). See under
      {Cherry}.

   {Great laurel}, the rosebay ({Rhododendron maximum}).

   {Ground laurel}, trailing arbutus.

   {New Zealand laurel}, {Laurelia Nov[ae] Zelandi[ae]}.

   {Portugal laurel}, the {Prunus Lusitanica}.

   {Rose laurel}, the oleander. See {Oleander}.

   {Sheep laurel}, a poisonous shrub, {Kalmia angustifolia},
      smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and
      redder flowers.

   {Spurge laurel}, {Daphne Laureola}.

   {West Indian laurel}, {Prunus occidentalis}.

Mountain \Moun"tain\, a.
   1. Of or pertaining to a mountain or mountains; growing or
      living on a mountain; found on or peculiar to mountains;
      among mountains; as, a mountain torrent; mountain pines;
      mountain goats; mountain air; mountain howitzer.

   2. Like a mountain; mountainous; vast; very great.

            The high, the mountain majesty of worth. --Byron.

   {Mountain antelope} (Zo["o]l.), the goral.

   {Mountain ash} (Bot.), an ornamental tree, the {Pyrus
      (Sorbus) Americana}, producing beautiful bunches of red
      berries. Its leaves are pinnate, and its flowers white,
      growing in fragrant clusters. The European species is the
      {P. aucuparia}, or rowan tree.

   {Mountain barometer}, a portable barometer, adapted for safe
      transportation, used in measuring the heights of
      mountains.

   {Mountain beaver} (Zo["o]l.), the sewellel.

   {Mountain blue} (Min.), blue carbonate of copper; azurite.

   {Mountain cat} (Zo["o]l.), the catamount. See {Catamount}.

   {Mountain chain}, a series of contiguous mountain ranges,
      generally in parallel or consecutive lines or curves.

   {Mountain cock} (Zo["o]l.), capercailzie. See {Capercailzie}.
      

   {Mountain cork} (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling
      cork in its texture.

   {Mountain crystal}. See under {Crystal}.

   {Mountain damson} (Bot.), a large tree of the genus
      {Simaruba} ({S. amarga}) growing in the West Indies, which
      affords a bitter tonic and astringent, sometimes used in
      medicine.

   {Mountain dew}, Scotch whisky, so called because often
      illicitly distilled among the mountains. [Humorous]

   {Mountain ebony} (Bot.), a small leguminous tree ({Bauhinia
      variegata}) of the East and West Indies; -- so called
      because of its dark wood. The bark is used medicinally and
      in tanning.

   {Mountain flax} (Min.), a variety of asbestus, having very
      fine fibers; amianthus. See {Amianthus}.

   {Mountain fringe} (Bot.), climbing fumitory. See under
      {Fumitory}.

   {Mountain goat}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Mazama}.

   {Mountain green}. (Min.)
      (a) Green malachite, or carbonate of copper.
      (b) See {Green earth}, under {Green}, a.

   {Mountain holly} (Bot.), a branching shrub ({Nemopanthes
      Canadensis}), having smooth oblong leaves and red berries.
      It is found in the Northern United States.

   {Mountain laurel} (Bot.), an American shrub ({Kalmia
      latifolia}) with glossy evergreen leaves and showy
      clusters of rose-colored or white flowers. The foliage is
      poisonous. Called also {American laurel}, {ivy bush}, and
      {calico bush}. See {Kalmia}.

   {Mountain leather} (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling
      leather in its texture.

   {Mountain licorice} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Trifolium}
      ({T. Alpinum}).

   {Mountain limestone} (Geol.), a series of marine limestone
      strata below the coal measures, and above the old red
      standstone of Great Britain. See Chart of {Geology}.

   {Mountain linnet} (Zo["o]l.), the twite.

   {Mountain magpie}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) The yaffle, or green woodpecker.
      (b) The European gray shrike.

   {Mountain mahogany} (Bot.) See under {Mahogany}.

   {Mountain meal} (Min.), a light powdery variety of calcite,
      occurring as an efflorescence.

   {Mountain milk} (Min.), a soft spongy variety of carbonate of
      lime.

   {Mountain mint}. (Bot.) See {Mint}.

   {Mountain ousel} (Zo["o]l.), the ring ousel; -- called also
      {mountain thrush} and {mountain colley}. See {Ousel}.

   {Mountain pride}, or {Mountain green} (Bot.), a tree of
      Jamaica ({Spathelia simplex}), which has an unbranched
      palmlike stem, and a terminal cluster of large, pinnate
      leaves.

   {Mountain quail} (Zo["o]l.), the plumed partridge ({Oreortyx
      pictus}) of California. It has two long, slender,
      plumelike feathers on the head. The throat and sides are
      chestnut; the belly is brown with transverse bars of black
      and white; the neck and breast are dark gray.

   {Mountain range}, a series of mountains closely related in
      position and direction.

   {Mountain rice}. (Bot.)
      (a) An upland variety of rice, grown without irrigation,
          in some parts of Asia, Europe, and the United States.
      (b) An American genus of grasses ({Oryzopsis}).

   {Mountain rose} (Bot.), a species of rose with solitary
      flowers, growing in the mountains of Europe ({Rosa
      alpina}).

   {Mountain soap} (Min.), a soft earthy mineral, of a brownish
      color, used in crayon painting; saxonite.

   {Mountain sorrel} (Bot.), a low perennial plant ({Oxyria
      digyna} with rounded kidney-form leaves, and small
      greenish flowers, found in the White Mountains of New
      Hampshire, and in high northern latitudes. --Gray.

   {Mountain sparrow} (Zo["o]l.), the European tree sparrow.

   {Mountain spinach}. (Bot.) See {Orach}.

   {Mountain tobacco} (Bot.), a composite plant ({Arnica
      montana}) of Europe; called also {leopard's bane}.

   {Mountain witch} (Zo["o]l.), a ground pigeon of Jamaica, of
      the genus {Geotrygon}.

Source : WordNet®

mountain laurel
     n 1: a North American evergreen shrub having glossy leaves and
          white or rose-colored flowers [syn: {wood laurel}, {American
          laurel}, {calico bush}, {Kalmia latifolia}]
     2: Pacific coast tree having aromatic foliage and small
        umbellate flowers followed by olivelike fruit; yields a
        hard tough wood [syn: {California laurel}, {California bay
        tree}, {Oregon myrtle}, {pepperwood}, {spice tree}, {sassafras
        laurel}, {California olive}, {Umbellularia californica}]