¹periwinkle

noun per·i·win·kle \ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl\

Definition of PERIWINKLE

: any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: as

a (1) : a European creeper (Vinca minor) widely cultivated as a ground cover and for its blue or white flowers —called also myrtle (2) : a trailing plant (Vinca major) with large blue flowers that is used as a ground cover and in window boxes

b : rosy periwinkle

: a light purplish blue —called also periwinkle blue

Origin of PERIWINKLE

Middle English perwinke, from Old English perwince, from Vulgar Latin *pervinca, short for Latin vincapervinca

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

Rhymes with PERIWINKLE

Rip van Winkle

²periwinkle

noun

Definition of PERIWINKLE

: any of various gastropod mollusks: as

a : any of a genus (Littorina) of edible littoral marine snails; also : any of various similar or related marine snails

b : any of several North American freshwater snails

Illustration of PERIWINKLE

Origin of PERIWINKLE

Middle English *periwinkle, alteration of Old English pīnewincle, from Latin pina, a kind of mussel (from Greek) + Old English -wincle (akin to Dan vincle snail shell)

First Known Use: circa 1530

PERIWINKLE Defined for Kids