cinquefoil

(siŋk′fo̵il′)

noun

any of a genus (Potentilla) of plants of the rose family, with white, yellow, or red flowers and fruit like a dry strawberry: some species have compound leaves with five leaflets arranged like the fingers on a hand
Archit. a circular design made up of five converging arcs

Origin: ME cink foil < OFr cinquefoil < It cinquefoglie < L quinquefolium < quinque, five + folium, leaf: see foliate

See cinquefoil in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of several plants of the genus Potentilla in the rose family, native chiefly to temperate and cold regions and having yellow or sometimes white or red flowers and compound leaves that in some species bear five leaflets.
Architecture A design having five sides composed of converging arcs, usually used as a frame for glass or a panel.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English cinkfoil

Origin: : cink, five; see cinque

Origin: + foil, leaf (translation of Old French quintefeuille, from Latin quīnquefolium, translation of Greek pentaphullon); see foil²

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