privet Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of various Old World shrubs having smooth entire leaves and terminal panicles of small white flowers followed by small black berries; many used for hedges

WordNet

Priv"et noun
Etymology
Cf. Scot. privie, Prov. E. prim-print, primwort. Prob. for primet, and perh. named from being cut and trimmed. See, Prim, a., and cf. Prime to prune, Prim, n., Prie, n.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) An ornamental European shrub (Ligustrum vulgare), much used in hedges; -- called also prim.

Webster 1913