View synonyms for periwinkle

periwinkle

[ per-i-wing-kuhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of various marine gastropods or sea snails, especially Littorina littorea, used for food in Europe.
the shell of any of these animals.

periwinkle

[ per-i-wing-kuhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Also called myrtle. a trailing plant, Vinca minor, of the dogbane family, having glossy, evergreen foliage and usually blue-violet flowers.
any of several similar plants of the genus Vinca or Catharanthus.
a blue-violet color.

periwinkle

/ ˈpɛrɪˌwɪŋkəl /

noun

Also called (US)creeping myrtletrailing myrtle any of several Eurasian apocynaceous evergreen plants of the genus Vinca, such as V. minor ( lesser periwinkle ) and V. major ( greater periwinkle ), having trailing stems and blue flowers
1. a light purplish-blue colour
2. ( as adjective )
  a periwinkle coat

periwinkle

/ ˈpɛrɪˌwɪŋkəl /

noun

any of various edible marine gastropods of the genus Littorina, esp L. littorea, having a spirally coiled shell Often shortened towinkle

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Other Words From

peri·winkled adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of periwinkle¹

1520–30; perhaps reflecting (through assimilation to periwinkle ² ) Old English pīnewincle, equivalent to pīne (from Latin pīna from Greek pínē, pîna, a kind of mollusk) + -wincel “shellfish” (occurring only in compounds), cognate with dialectal Danish vinkel “snail shell”

Origin of periwinkle²

before 1000; earlier pervinkle, perwinkle, alteration ( -le ) of Middle English perwinke, pervinke, from Anglo-French pervenke ( Old French pervenche ,) from Late Latin pervinca, Latin vi(n)capervi(n)ca; compare Old English peruince, Middle High German ber(e)winke from Late Latin pervinca

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Word History and Origins

Origin of periwinkle¹

C14 pervenke, from Old English perwince, from Late Latin pervinca

Origin of periwinkle²

C16: of unknown origin

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Example Sentences

Miss Tucker here held the slate up in front of her and stared at the picture of Periwinkle.

From Project Gutenberg

The little grandchild, Periwinkle, sat on the floor with that funny-serious air that belonged to her chubby face.

From Project Gutenberg

And now that Henrietta was in trouble, the little Illinois Periwinkle had gone off in her self-reliant fashion to see about it.

From Project Gutenberg

There were times when the memory of her country home and little Periwinkle came into her mind like a fresh breeze from the hills.

From Project Gutenberg

But the old lady persisted, and, above all, little Periwinkle informed Rob that she was going down to see about Henrietta.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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