privet

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: priv=et

CIDE DICTIONARY

privet, n. [Cf. Scot. privie, Prov. E. prim-print, primwort. Prob. for primet, and perh. named from being cut and trimmed. See, Prim, a., and cf. Prime to prune, Prim, n., Prie, n.].

 An ornamental European shrub (Ligustrum vulgare), much used in hedges; -- called also prim.  [1913 Webster]

Egyptian privet. See Lawsonia. -- Evergreen privet, a plant of the genus Rhamnus. See Alatern. -- Mock privet, any one of several evergreen shrubs of the genus Phillyrea. They are from the Mediterranean region, and have been much cultivated for hedges and for fancifully clipped shrubberies.<-- i. e., topiary plants -->

OXFORD DICTIONARY

privet, n. any evergreen shrub of the genus Ligustrum, esp. L. vulgare bearing small white flowers and black berries, and much used for hedges.

Etymology

16th c.: orig. unkn.