\Ver"nal\, a. [L. vernalis, fr. vernus vernal, ver
spring; akin to Gr. ?, Skr. vasanta, Icel. v[=a]r, and E.
Easter, east.]
1. Of or pertaining to the spring; appearing in the spring;
   as, vernal bloom.
2. Fig.: Belonging to youth, the spring of life.
         When after the long vernal day of life. --Thomson.
         And seems it hard thy vernal years Few vernal joys
         can show?                             --Keble.
{Vernal equinox} (Astron.), the time when the sun crosses the
   equator when proceeding northward.
{Vernal grass} (Bot.), a low, soft grass ({Anthoxanthum
   odoratum}), producing in the spring narrow spikelike
   panicles, and noted for the delicious fragrance which it
   gives to new-mown hay; -- also called {sweet vernal
   grass}. See Illust. in Appendix.
{Vernal signs} (Astron.), the signs, Aries, Taurus, and
   Gemini, in which the sun appears between the vernal
   equinox and summer solstice.