The word "hazel" refers to a type of tree or its light brown color. Its spelling may seem straightforward, but its pronunciation is not as intuitive. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled /ˈheɪzəl/, indicating that the first syllable is pronounced like "hay" and the second syllable is pronounced like "zul." This unique spelling offers a clue that the "z" sound is followed by a "silent e," which changes the vowel sound from "u" to "e."
Hazel is an adjective that typically refers to both the color and the characteristics associated with the hazelnut tree or its nuts. In terms of color, hazel is a shade that lies between brown and green, often with hints of gold or amber. It is commonly used to describe the eye color that displays a combination of brown, green, and amber tones.
As for the hazelnut tree and its nuts, hazel is a term used to describe their natural features. The hazelnut tree, also known as the Corylus, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Its nuts, known as hazelnuts or filberts, are round or oval in shape and are enclosed in a hard, woody shell.
The term "hazel" can also have symbolic or metaphorical meanings. It can be used to express notions of wisdom, intuition, and understanding, often attributed to the hazel tree in folklore and mythology. Additionally, "hazel" may be used metaphorically to describe a mixture or blend of traits, such as hazel eyes representing a combination of different eye colors.
Overall, "hazel" encompasses various meanings associated with the color, characteristics of the hazelnut tree and its nuts, and symbolic or metaphorical representations.
Of a light-brown colour like the hazel-nut.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "hazel" has Old English roots and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "hasalaz". This ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *koselo-, meaning "hazel tree". It is also related to the Old High German word "hasal" and the Old Norse word "hasl", both of which refer to the same tree. The various forms evolved over time to eventually become the modern English word "hazel" that we use today.