sweet bay

American  

noun

1. laurel.

2. an American magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, having large oblong leaves and fragrant, white flowers, common on the Atlantic coast.

---

sweet bay British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: bay.  a small tree, Magnolia virginiana, of SE North America, having large fragrant white flowers: family Magnoliaceae (magnolias)

---

Etymology

Origin of sweet bay

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

A flatbed trailer was loaded with scores of potted native trees: Shumard oak, yellow poplar, persimmon, Eastern red cedar, sweet bay magnolia.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 26, 2021

The sun was dipping into the sea as we trudged across the meadows towards a high, dome-shaped dune covered with cedars and thickets of sweet bay.

From In Search of the Unknown by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

As substitutes for tea many leaves may be named which will not be called simply medicinal, prominently those of the sweet bay, the peach, and the black currant.

From The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, October 1879 by Various

Let sauce cook, after adding a boquet of thyme, sweet bay, cloves, green onions and garlic.

From Stevenson Memorial Cook Book by Various

There was the scent of sweet bay in the room, and everywhere the subtle, nameless perfume of the sea.

From In Search of the Unknown by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)