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periwinkle

(per′ə wiŋ′kəl)

noun

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

Origin: ME pervinke < OE peruince < L pervinca, periwinkle < pervincire, to entwine, bind < per- (see per) + vincire, to bind, fetter < IE base *weig-: see weak

noun

any of a family (Littorinidae) of small, intertidal saltwater snails having a thick, globular shell: some species are edible
the shell of such a snail

Origin: < OE pinewincle < L pina, mussel (< Gr) + OE -wincle, akin to Dan dial. vinkel, snail shell, OE winkel, corner < IE *weng-, to be curved > winch

See periwinkle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of several small, often edible marine snails, especially of the genus Littorina, having thick, cone-shaped, whorled shells.
The shell of any of the periwinkles.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English *periwinkle

Origin: , probably alteration (influenced by pervinkle, periwinkle (plant))

Origin: of Old English pīnewincle

Origin: : Latin pīna, mussel (from Greek pīnē)

Origin: + Old English -wincel, snail shell

noun

Any of several shrubby, trailing, evergreen plants of the genus Vinca, especially V. minor, having glossy, dark green, opposite leaves and flowers with a blue, funnel-shaped corolla. Also called myrtle.
Any of several erect herbs of the genus Catharanthus, especially C. roseus, having flowers with a rose-pink or white salverform corolla and a closed throat.
A pale purplish blue.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English pervinkle

Origin: , diminutive of pervinke

Origin: , from Old English pervince

Origin: , from Latin (vinca) pervinca

Origin: , from pervincīre, to wind about

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