periwinkle

periwinkle
periwinkle
periwinkle1 [per′ə wiŋ΄kəl]
n.
[ME pervinke < OE peruince < L pervinca, periwinkle < pervincire, to entwine, bind < per- (see PER1) + vincire, to bind, fetter < IE base * weig-: see WEAK]
any of a genus (Vinca) of trailing or erect, evergreen plants of the dogbane family; esp., a creeper ( V. minor) with blue, white, or pink flowers, grown as a ground cover
periwinkle2 [per′ə wiŋ΄kəl]
n.
[< OE pinewincle < L pina, mussel (< Gr) + OE -wincle, akin to Dan dial. vinkel, snail shell, OE winkel, corner < IE * weng-, to be curved > WINCH]
1. any of a family (Littorinidae) of small, intertidal saltwater snails having a thick, globular shell: some species are edible
2. the shell of such a snail

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • Periwinkle — is...;Flora and fauna * Periwinkle (mollusc) * A regional term for the gravel encased larva of the Caddisfly * Periwinkle (plant), two related genera: ** Catharanthus (Madagascar periwinkles) ** Vinca (European periwinkles) * Periwinkle (color),… …   Wikipedia

  • Periwinkle — Per i*win kle, n. [OE. pervenke, AS. pervince, fr. L. pervinca.] (Bot.) A trailing herb of the genus {Vinca}. [1913 Webster] Note: The common perwinkle ({Vinca minor}) has opposite evergreen leaves and solitary blue or white flowers in their… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Periwinkle — Per i*win kle, n. [From AS. pinewincla a shellfish, in which pine is fr. L. pina, pinna, a kind of mussel, akin to Gr. ?. Cf. {Winkle}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any small marine gastropod shell of the genus Littorina. The common European species ({Littorina… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • periwinkle — [1] ► NOUN ▪ a plant with flat five petalled flowers and glossy leaves. ORIGIN Latin pervinca …   English terms dictionary

  • periwinkle — periwinkle1 /per i wing keuhl/, n. 1. any of various marine gastropods or sea snails, esp. Littorina littorea, used for food in Europe. 2. the shell of any of these animals. [1520 30; perh. reflecting (through assimilation to PERIWINKLE2) OE… …   Universalium

  • periwinkle — {{11}}periwinkle (1) evergreen plant, c.1500, dim. of parvink (12c.), from O.E. perwince, from L.L. pervinca periwinkle (4c.), from L., from pervincire to entwine, bind, from per thoroughly (see PER (Cf. per)) + vincire to bind, fetter (see …   Etymology dictionary

  • periwinkle — I. noun Etymology: Middle English perwinke, from Old English perwince, from Vulgar Latin *pervinca, short for Latin vincapervinca Date: before 12th century 1. any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: as a. (1) a… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • periwinkle — UK [ˈperɪˌwɪŋk(ə)l] / US noun Word forms periwinkle : singular periwinkle plural periwinkles 1) a) [countable] a small blue or white flower b) [uncountable] the colour of a blue periwinkle 2) [countable] a small sea creature that lives in a shell …   English dictionary

  • periwinkle — I. /ˈpɛriwɪŋkəl / (say pereewingkuhl) noun 1. any of various marine gastropods or sea snails, especially Littorina littorea, used for food. 2. the shell of any of various other small univalves. {Middle English pervinkle, from Germanic} II.… …  

  • periwinkle — SYN: Vinca rosea. * * * per·i·win·kle per i .wiŋ kəl n any of several trailing or woody evergreen plants of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) esp ROSY PERIWINKLE * * * peri·win·kle (perґe wing″kəl) 1. any of several woody herbs of the… …   Medical dictionary

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