periwinkle

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 WIND (Cf. wind) (v.)).
{{12}}periwinkle (2) "kind of sea snail," 1520s, alteration of O.E. pinewincle, probably by influence of M.E. parvink (see PERIWINKLE (Cf. periwinkle) (1)), from O.E. pine- (probably from L. pina "mussel," from Gk. pine) + wincel "corner."

Etymology 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 — 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 …   English World dictionary

  • 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 — 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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