olive

Meanings

Noun

• A tree, Olea europaea, cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.
• The small oval fruit of this tree, eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green).
• The wood of the olive tree.
• A dark yellowish-green color, that of an unripe olive.
• An olivary body, part of the medulla oblongata.
• A component of a plumbing compression joint; a ring which is placed between the nut and the pipe and compressed during fastening to provide a seal.
• A small slice of meat seasoned, rolled up, and cooked.
• Any shell of the genus Oliva and allied genera; so called from the shape.
• An oystercatcher, a shore bird.

Adjective

• Of a grayish green color, that of an unripe olive.

Origin

• From Middle English olyve, from Old French olive ("olive, olive tree"), from Latin olīva ("olive"), from Etruscan 𐌄𐌋𐌄𐌉𐌅𐌀 or Proto-Greek *ἐλαίϝα, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *loiwom (compare Old Church Slavonic лои ("tallow"), Old Armenian եւղ ("oil")). Displaced native , literally "oil berry."