The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Laurel \Lau"rel\, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier,
   laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.]
   1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (Laurus
      nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape,
      with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their
      axils; -- called also sweet bay.

   Note: The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the
         Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks
         to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later
         period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of
         laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an
         aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce.
         [1913 Webster]

   Note: The name is extended to other plants which in some
         respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; --
      especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because
      the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.
      [1913 Webster]

   Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the
      cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other
      products carried over in the process.
      [1913 Webster]

   American laurel, or Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia;
      called also calico bush. See under Mountain.

   California laurel, Umbellularia Californica.

   Cherry laurel (in England called laurel). See under
      Cherry.

   Great laurel, the rosebay (Rhododendron maximum).

   Ground laurel, trailing arbutus.

   New Zealand laurel, the Laurelia Nov[ae] Zelandi[ae].

   Portugal laurel, the Prunus Lusitanica.

   Rose laurel, the oleander. See Oleander.

   Sheep laurel, a poisonous shrub, Kalmia angustifolia,
      smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and
      redder flowers.

   Spurge laurel, Daphne Laureola.

   West Indian laurel, Prunus occidentalis.
      [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

LAUREATE, adj.  Crowned with leaves of the laurel.  In England the
Poet Laureate is an officer of the sovereign's court, acting as
dancing skeleton at every royal feast and singing-mute at every royal
funeral.  Of all incumbents of that high office, Robert Southey had
the most notable knack at drugging the Samson of public joy and
cutting his hair to the quick; and he had an artistic color-sense
which enabled him so to blacken a public grief as to give it the
aspect of a national crime.


The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

LAUREL, n.  The _laurus_, a vegetable dedicated to Apollo, and
formerly defoliated to wreathe the brows of victors and such poets as
had influence at court.  (See LAUREATE)


U.S. Gazetteer (1990):

Laurel, DE (town, FIPS 41310)
  Location: 38.55496 N, 75.57307 W
  Population (1990): 3226 (1322 housing units)
  Area: 3.7 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 19956
Laurel, FL (CDP, FIPS 39600)
  Location: 27.14255 N, 82.46241 W
  Population (1990): 8245 (4827 housing units)
  Area: 12.6 sq km (land), 2.2 sq km (water)
Laurel, IA (city, FIPS 43680)
  Location: 41.88375 N, 92.92133 W
  Population (1990): 271 (116 housing units)
  Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 50141
Laurel, IN (town, FIPS 42372)
  Location: 39.50159 N, 85.18836 W
  Population (1990): 544 (218 housing units)
  Area: 0.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 47024
Laurel, MD (city, FIPS 45900)
  Location: 39.09775 N, 76.85855 W
  Population (1990): 19438 (9049 housing units)
  Area: 8.2 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 20707, 20723, 20724
Laurel, MS (city, FIPS 39640)
  Location: 31.69369 N, 89.14466 W
  Population (1990): 18827 (8381 housing units)
  Area: 39.9 sq km (land), 0.9 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 39440
Laurel, MT (city, FIPS 42700)
  Location: 45.67403 N, 108.77171 W
  Population (1990): 5686 (2596 housing units)
  Area: 4.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 59044
Laurel, NE (city, FIPS 26350)
  Location: 42.42798 N, 97.09404 W
  Population (1990): 981 (462 housing units)
  Area: 2.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 68745
Laurel, NY (CDP, FIPS 41465)
  Location: 40.97529 N, 72.55362 W
  Population (1990): 1094 (641 housing units)
  Area: 8.7 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 11948
Laurel, VA (CDP, FIPS 44280)
  Location: 37.63387 N, 77.50695 W
  Population (1990): 13011 (5771 housing units)
  Area: 14.7 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)