red bay

noun

1. an evergreen tree, Persea borbonia, of the eastern coast of the U.S., having faintly bluish-green leaves and blue or blue-black, red-stalked fruit, grown as an ornamental.

Word History and Origins

Origin of red bay¹

An Americanism dating back to 1720–30

Example Sentences

Cypress, sweet gum, red bay, Florida maple and the state’s signature sabal palms crowd the narrow waterway.

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Only one woman is in the driver’s seat for this show: the New York sculptor Virginia Overton, who is exhibiting a 1993 Dodge Ram with a rear cargo transformed into a red bay of light.

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The ambrosia beetle targets the ubiquitous red bay and close relatives in the laurel family, such as sassafras.

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It was the same red bay, but now the boy on the black horse moved his hands forward a little and his mount came easily to the leader's side.

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He roped a big, red bay, smooth, with a glossy coat that shone like a flame in the clear white light of the morning sun.

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