Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - lavender

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English lavendre, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin lavandula  Date: 13th century  1.  a. a Mediterranean mint (Lavandula angustifolia syn. L. officinalis) widely cultivated for its narrow aromatic leaves and spikes of lilac-purple flowers which are dried and used in sachets and from which is extracted an aromatic oil used chiefly in perfumery  b. any of several plants congeneric with true ~ and used similarly but often considered inferior  2. a pale purple  II. transitive verb  (~ed; ~ing)  Date: 1820 to sprinkle or perfume with ~