has already achieved that one makes no further effort. Middle English lorer, from Old French lorier, from Provencal laurier, from earlier laur, from Latin laurus. Linked entries: MOUNTAIN LAUREL # CHERRY LAUREL # BAY # Lau*rel and Har*dy U.S. comedy duo that consisted of Stan Laurel (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson) (1890-1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892-1957). British-born Laurel played the scatterbrained and often tearful innocent; Hardy played his pompous, overbearing, and frequently exasperated friend. They brought their distinctive slapstick comedy to many movies from 1927. Lau*ren*tian Pla*teau another