olive branch

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

With reference to classical myth, where the olivebranch was a symbol of peace and prosperity, merging with Biblical allusion to Genesis 8:11, where a dove returns to Noah's ark as a sign that the Flood is subsiding.

Noun

olive branch (plural olive branches)

1. Used other than as an idiom: A branch of an olive tree.
2. Such a branch offered as an emblem of peace.
3. Any symbol of peace, or peace offering to an adversary to show good will and in the hope of securing peace.

Quotations

• His remarks came after Britain offered a diplomatic olive branch to Iran earlier in the day to try to secure an early release of the prisoners. - The Observer, Iran snubs UK olive branch, 01/04/2007 [1]
• I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand - Yasser Arafat

Translations

branch of an olive tree

• Armenian: ձիթենու ճյուղ (hy) (jit’enu č̣yuġ) 
• Finnish: oliivinoksa (fi)
• French: branche d'olivier (fr) f, rameau d'olivier (fr) m, brin d'olivier (fr) m

• Old French: branche d'olive
• Russian: оливковая ветвь (ru) (olívkovaja vétv’) f 
• Turkish: zeytin dalı (tr)

branch as emblem of peace

• Armenian: ձիթենու ճյուղ (hy) (jit’enu č̣yuġ) 
• Finnish: oliivinoksa (fi)
• Old French: branche d'olive

• Russian: оливковая ветвь (ru) (olívkovaja vétv’) 
• Turkish: zeytin dalı (tr)

any symbol of peace

• Armenian: ձիթենու ճյուղ (hy) (jit’enu č̣yuġ) 
• Finnish: oliivinoksa (fi)
• Old French: branche d'olive

• Russian: оливковая ветвь (ru) (olívkovaja vétv’) 
• Turkish: zeytin dalı (tr)