Avellan, a. and n.
(əˈvɛlən, ˈævələn)
Also avell-, avelane.
[ad. L. Avellānus of Avella or Abella, a town in Campania famous for its fruit-trees and nuts. Cf. Sp., It. avellana n., OF. avelin adj., avelaine n., mod.F. aveline n.]
A. adj. Of Avella; filbert-, hazel-; cf. L. Avellāna nux.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R xvi. viii, Adamas..passeþ neuer þe quantite of a note avelane [1535 walnut]. 1875 Blackmore A. Lorraine III. xxvii. 340 From the size of an avellan-nut to that of a small castane. |
B. n. A filbert- or hazel-nut. (See also quot. 1610.)
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vii. lxvii. (1495) 285 Grete nottes & Auellanes. 1610 Markham Masterp. ii. clxxiii. 484 Auellane, which we call the ashes of nut-shells burnt. |
b. attrib. in Her., as applied to a kind of cross.
| 1611 J. Guillim Heraldrie iii. i. 190 A Crosse Auellane. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict., Avelane..the Form of a Cross, which resembles four Filberts in their Husks or Cases, joined together at the great End. |