Main Entry: ¹ha·zel

Pronunciation: \ˈhā-zəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English hasel, from Old English hæsel; akin to Old High German hasal hazel, Latin corulus

Date: before 12th century

1 : any of a genus (Corylus and especially the American C. americana and the European C. avellana) of shrubs or small trees of the birch family bearing nuts enclosed in a leafy involucre
2 : a light brown to strong yellowish brown