Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Lavender \Lav"en*der\, n. [OE. lavendre, F. lavande, It. lavanda
   lavender, a washing, fr. L. lavare to wash; cf. It.
   lsavendola, LL. lavendula. So called because it was used in
   bathing and washing. See {Lave}. to wash, and cf.
   {Lavender}.]
   1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus {Lavandula} ({L.
      vera}), common in the south of Europe. It yields and oil
      used in medicine and perfumery. The {Spike lavender} ({L.
      Spica}) yields a coarser oil (oil of spike), used in the
      arts.

   2. The pale, purplish color of lavender flowers, paler and
      more delicate than lilac.

   {Lavender cotton} (Bot.), a low, twiggy, aromatic shrub
      ({Santolina Cham[ae]cyparissus}) of the Mediterranean
      region, formerly used as a vermifuge, etc., and still used
      to keep moths from wardrobes. Also called {ground
      cypress}.

   {Lavender water}, a perfume composed of alcohol, essential
      oil of lavender, essential oil of bergamot, and essence of
      ambergris.

   {Sea lavender}. (Bot.) See {Marsh rosemary}.

   {To lay in lavender}.
      (a) To lay away, as clothing, with sprigs of lavender.
      (b) To pawn. [Obs.]

Source : WordNet®

Santolina chamaecyparissus
     n : branching aromatic Mediterranean shrub with woolly stems and
         leaves and yellow flowers [syn: {lavender cotton}]