Ha"zel (hā"z'l), n. [OE.
hasel, AS. hæsel; akin to D. hazelaar, G.
hazel, OHG. hasal, hasala, Icel. hasl,
Dan & Sw. hassel, L. corylus, for cosylus.]
1. (Bot.) A shrub or small tree of the
genus Corylus, as the C. avellana, bearing a nut
containing a kernel of a mild, farinaceous taste; the filbert. The
American species are C. Americana, which produces the common
hazelnut, and C. rostrata. See Filbert.
Gray.
2. A miner's name for freestone.
Raymond.
Hazel earth, soil suitable for the hazel; a
fertile loam. -- Hazel grouse
(Zoöl.), a European grouse (Bonasa betulina),
allied to the American ruffed grouse. -- Hazel
hoe, a kind of grub hoe. -- Witch
hazel. See Witch-hazel, and
Hamamelis.
Ha"zel, a. 1.
Consisting of hazels, or of the wood of the hazel; pertaining
to, or derived from, the hazel; as, a hazel wand.
I sit me down beside the hazel
grove.
Keble.
2. Of a light brown color, like the
hazelnut. "Thou hast hazel eyes." Shak.