Oleander

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Oleander \O`le*an"der\, n. [F. ol['e]andre (cf. It. oleandro,
     LL. lorandrum), prob. corrupted, under the influence of
     laurus laurel, fr. L. rhododendron, Gr. ?; ? rose + ? tree.]
     (Bot.)
     A beautiful evergreen shrub ({Nerium oleander}) of the
     Dogbane family, having clusters of fragrant red, white, or


     pink flowers. It is a native of the East Indies, but the red
     variety has become common in the south of Europe. Called also
     {rosebay}, {rose laurel}, and {South-sea rose}.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: Every part of the plant is dangerously poisonous, and
           death has occured from using its wood for skewers in
           cooking meat.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  oleander
       n : an ornamental but poisonous flowering shrub having narrow
           evergreen leaves and clusters of fragrant white to pink
           or red flowers: native to East Indies but widely
           cultivated in warm regions [syn: {rose bay}, {Nerium
           oleander}]