Ver"nal (?), a. [L. vernalis, fr.
vernus vernal, ver spring; akin to Gr. ?, Skr.
vasanta, Icel. vār, and E. Easter, east.]
1. Of or pertaining to the spring; appearing in the
spring; as, vernal bloom.
2. Fig.: Belonging to youth, the spring of
life.
When after the long vernal day of life.
Thomson.
And seems it hard thy vernal years
Few vernal joys can show?
Keble.
Vernal equinox (Astron.), the time when the
sun crosses the equator when proceeding northward. -- Vernal
grass (Bot.), a low, soft grass (Anthoxanthum
odoratum), producing in the spring narrow spikelike panicles, and noted
for the delicious fragrance which it gives to new-mown hay; -- also called
sweet vernal grass. See Illust. in Appendix. --
Vernal signs (Astron.), the signs, Aries,
Taurus, and Gemini, in which the sun appears between the vernal equinox and
summer solstice.