periwinkle

¹ American  

[per-i-wing-kuhl] / ˈpɛr ɪˌwɪŋ kəl /

noun

1. any of various marine gastropods or sea snails, especially Littorina littorea, used for food in Europe.

2. the shell of any of these animals.

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periwinkle ² American  

[per-i-wing-kuhl] / ˈpɛr ɪˌwɪŋ kəl /

noun

1. Also called myrtle.  a trailing plant, Vinca minor, of the dogbane family, having glossy, evergreen foliage and usually blue-violet flowers.

2. any of several similar plants of the genus Vinca or Catharanthus.

3. a blue-violet color.

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periwinkle ¹ British  

/ ˈpɛrɪˌwɪŋkəl /

noun

1. Also called (US): creeping myrtle.   trailing 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

2. 1. a light purplish-blue colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a periwinkle coat

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periwinkle ² British  

/ ˈpɛrɪˌwɪŋkəl /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• periwinkled adjective

Etymology

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 ( see -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

Explanation

A periwinkle is a tiny snail that lives in the Atlantic Ocean. Some east coast beaches are covered with small stones, shells, and periwinkles. It’s also a color, a purplish-blue, just like the flowers on a periwinkle plant. You might see periwinkles as you walk along the sea shore, and you may even see them on some restaurant menus, especially in coastal areas of the UK, where they're commonly called winkles. Another kind of periwinkle is the blue-flowered plant also called vinca, as well as the shade of purplish blue that was named for the flowers. Periwinkle is fun to say.

Example Sentences

She cited aspirin drawing on formulations using willow tree bark, contraceptive pills developed from yam plant roots and child cancer treatments based on Madagascar's rosy periwinkle flower.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

She said the rivers and ponds used to brim with all kinds of animals and fish, particularly periwinkle.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2025

They recalled cleaning their graves in a cemetery whose stones, pottery and plantings of yucca and periwinkle were a window into ancestral burial practices.

From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2023

Disney added the city’s name when it ran the franchise from 1996 to 2003, while dressing players in periwinkle blue uniforms that were among the ugliest ever in professional sports.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2023

There it is, swirls of blue, purple, and periwinkle watercolor.

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes

Related Words

• color
• lavender
• lilac
• mauve
• plum
• violet