chaste tree

noun

1. a shrub or small tree, Vitex agnus-castus, of southern Europe, having aromatic, hairy leaves and long clusters of fragrant, pale lilac-blue flowers.

chaste tree

noun

1. a small ornamental verbenaceous tree, Vitex agnus-castus, of S Europe and SW Asia, with spikes of pale blue flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaste tree¹

1555–65; translation of Latin agnus castus, variant of agnos castus (by influence of agnus lamb) < Greek ágnos kind of willow + Latin castus chaste, reinforcement of the idea thought to be in ágnos by confusion with Greek hagnós pure