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Laurel

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The Greeks gave a wreath of laurels to the victor in the Pythian games, but the victor in the Olympic games had a wreath of wild olives, the victor in the Nemeʹan games a wreath of green parsley, and the victor in the Isthmian games a wreath of dry parsley or green pine-leaves. (See Crown.)

Laurel. The ancients believed that laurel communicated the spirit of prophecy and poetry. Hence the custom of crowning the pythoness and poets, and of putting laurel leaves under one’s pillow to acquire inspiration. Another superstition was that the bay laurel was antagonistic to the stroke of lightning; but Sir Thomas Browne, in his Vulgar Errors, tells us that Vicomereatus proves from personal knowledge that this is by no means true.

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Laurel, in modern times, is a symbol of victory and peace. St. Gudule, in Christian art, carries a laurel crown.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Laughing Philosopher
Laughing-stock
Laughter
Launce
Launcelet
Launched into Eternity
Launfal (Sir)
Laura
Lauras. (Greek, laura.)
Laureate
Laurel
Laurence (Friar)
Lavaine
Lavalette (Marquis de)
Lavender
Lavinia
Lavinia and Palemon
Lavolt or Lavolta
Law
Law Latin
Law’s Bubble

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Crown