periwinkle

¹

[per-i-wing-kuhl]

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.

periwinkle

²

[per-i-wing-kuhl]

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.

periwinkle

¹

/ 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

periwinkle

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• periwinkled adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of periwinkle¹

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

Origin of periwinkle²

C16: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

There were satin boxing boots in hot pink and periwinkle.

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

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The scientists have already shown that several common flowers, such as periwinkles, petunias, and roses can be made to glow.

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Of course, Swift attracted the most attention while gracing the red carpet in a pretty periwinkle gown and her signature red lip.

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

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Related Words

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