hazel
/ˈheɪz(ə)l
/noun
1A temperate shrub or small tree with broad leaves, bearing prominent male catkins in spring and round hard-shelled edible nuts in autumn.
- Genus Corylus, family Betulaceae: several species, in particular the common Eurasian hazel (C. avellana).
- He could clearly distinguish elders, hazels and sloes.
- The oak tree across the road is practically bare but the beeches and hazels behind it are still fully leafed.
2 [mass noun] A reddish-brown or greenish-brown colour, especially of a person’s eyes: [as modifier]: the laughing hazel eyes were serious now...
- He was the taller of them, with sharp blue eyes and hazel coloured hair.
- Her eyes, hazel in colour, were very piercing.
- She couldn't quite put her finger on the colour; not quite hazel, not quite green.
Origin
Old English hæsel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hazelaar 'hazel tree', hazelnoot 'hazelnut', and German Hasel, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin corylus.