Lamb·kill n. Bot. A small American ericaceous shrub (Kalmia angustifolia), resembling mountain laurel but having narrower leaves and small red flowers; -- called also calfkill, sheepkill, sheep laurel, etc. It is supposed to poison young sheep and other animals that eat it at times when the snow is deep and they cannot find other food.
 Syn: -- sheep laurel, pig laurel, Kalmia angustifolia.

 ◄ ►


 Lau·rel n.
 1. Bot. An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (Laurus nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay.
 Note: The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce.
 Note: ☞ The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
 2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.
 3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.
 Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in the process.
 American laurel, or Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia; called also calico bush. See under Mountain.
 California laurel, Umbellularia Californica.
 Cherry laurel (in England called laurel). See under Cherry.
 Great laurel, the rosebay (Rhododendron maximum).
 Ground laurel, trailing arbutus.
 New Zealand laurel, the Laurelia Novæ Zelandiæ.
 Portugal laurel, the Prunus Lusitanica.
 Rose laurel, the oleander. See Oleander.
 Sheep laurel, a poisonous shrub, Kalmia angustifolia, smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and redder flowers.
 Spurge laurel, Daphne Laureola.
 West Indian laurel, Prunus occidentalis.

 ◄ ►


 Sheep n. sing. & pl.
 1. Zool. Any one of several species of ruminants of the genus Ovis, native of the higher mountains of both hemispheres, but most numerous in Asia.
 Note: ☞ The domestic sheep (Ovis aries) varies much in size, in the length and texture of its wool, the form and size of its horns, the length of its tail, etc. It was domesticated in prehistoric ages, and many distinct breeds have been produced; as the merinos, celebrated for their fine wool; the Cretan sheep, noted for their long horns; the fat-tailed, or Turkish, sheep, remarkable for the size and fatness of the tail, which often has to be supported on trucks; the Southdowns, in which the horns are lacking; and an Asiatic breed which always has four horns.
 2. A weak, bashful, silly fellow.
 3. pl. Fig.: The people of God, as being under the government and protection of Christ, the great Shepherd.
 Rocky mountain sheep.Zool. See Bighorn.
 Maned sheep. Zool. See Aoudad.
 Sheep bot Zool., the larva of the sheep botfly. See Estrus.
 Sheep dog Zool., a shepherd dog, or collie.
 Sheep laurel Bot., a small North American shrub (Kalmia angustifolia) with deep rose-colored flowers in corymbs.
 Sheep pest Bot., an Australian plant (Acaena ovina) related to the burnet. The fruit is covered with barbed spines, by which it adheres to the wool of sheep.
 Sheep run, an extensive tract of country where sheep range and graze.
 Sheep's beard Bot., a cichoraceous herb (Urospermum Dalechampii) of Southern Europe; -- so called from the conspicuous pappus of the achenes.
 Sheep's bit Bot., a European herb (Jasione montana) having much the appearance of scabious.
 Sheep pox Med., a contagious disease of sheep, characterixed by the development of vesicles or pocks upon the skin.
 Sheep scabious. Bot. Same as Sheep's bit.
 Sheep shears, shears in which the blades form the two ends of a steel bow, by the elasticity of which they open as often as pressed together by the hand in cutting; -- so called because used to cut off the wool of sheep.
 Sheep sorrel. Bot., a prerennial herb (Rumex Acetosella) growing naturally on poor, dry, gravelly soil. Its leaves have a pleasant acid taste like sorrel.
 Sheep's-wool Zool., the highest grade of Florida commercial sponges (Spongia equina, variety gossypina).
 Sheep tick Zool., a wingless parasitic insect (Melophagus ovinus) belonging to the Diptera. It fixes its proboscis in the skin of the sheep and sucks the blood, leaving a swelling. Called also sheep pest, and sheep louse.
 Sheep walk, a pasture for sheep; a sheep run.
 Wild sheep. Zool. See Argali, Mouflon, and Oorial.

 ◄ ►


 sheep laurel
      n : North American dwarf shrub resembling mountain laurel but
          having narrower leaves and small red flowers; poisonous
          to young stock [syn: pig laurel, lambkill, {Kalmia
          angustifolia]