cinquefoil

[ singk-foil ]

noun

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Potentilla, of the rose family, having yellow, red, or white five-petaled flowers, as P. reptans creeping cinquefoil, of the Old World, or P. argentea silvery cinquefoil, of North America.
2. Also called quinquefoil, quintefoil. Architecture. a panellike ornament consisting of five lobes, divided by cusps, radiating from a common center.
3. Heraldry. a charge in the form of a five-leaved clover.

cinquefoil

/ ˈsɪŋkˌfɔɪl /

noun

1. any plant of the N temperate rosaceous genus Potentilla, typically having five-lobed compound leaves
2. an ornamental carving in the form of five arcs arranged in a circle and separated by cusps
3. heraldry a charge representing a five-petalled flower

Word History and Origins

Origin of cinquefoil¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English sink foil, from Middle French cincfoille, from Latin quīnque folia “five leaves,” translation of Greek pentáphyllon “cinquefoil,” noun use of adjective pentáphyllos “five-petalled”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cinquefoil¹

C13 sink foil, from Old French cincfoille, from Latin quinquefolium plant with five leaves, translating Greek pentaphullon from pente five + phullon leaf

Example Sentences

In June, he writes, "The wind dies, bees hover outside the open tower windows, the cinquefoil blooms butter yellow in the meadow."

From The Daily Beast

On the south side the westernmost Perpendicular bay, up to the triforium, is solid and covered with cinquefoil panelling.

From Project Gutenberg

The panels are pointed and divided each into two cinquefoil divisions.

From Project Gutenberg

Over each seat is an ogee canopy, cinquefoil, crocketed, and surmounted by a huge finial.

From Project Gutenberg

Opposite to it is an enclosed Early English window, with cinquefoil heads and shafts in the jambs.

From Project Gutenberg

The Creeping Cinquefoil has a slender stem that creeps on the ground and forms new roots at the nodes.

From Project Gutenberg