Lexic.us

Definition of Periwinkle

1. Noun. Chiefly trailing poisonous plants with blue flowers.

2. Noun. Commonly cultivated Old World woody herb having large pinkish to red flowers.

3. Noun. Small edible marine snail; steamed in wine or baked.

4. Noun. Edible marine gastropod.

Definition of Periwinkle

1. n. Any small marine gastropod shell of the genus Littorina. The common European species (Littorina littorea), in Europe extensively used as food, has recently become naturalized abundantly on the American coast. See Littorina.

2. n. A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.

Definition of Periwinkle

1. Noun. Any of several evergreen plants of the genus ''Vinca'' with blue or white flowers. (defdate from 10th c.) ¹

2. Noun. A color with bluish and purplish hues, somewhat light. ¹

3. Adjective. Of pale bluish purple colour. ¹

4. Noun. A mollusk of genus ''Littorina''. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Periwinkle

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Periwinkle

1. Any small marine gastropod shell of the genus Littorina. The common European species (Littorina littorea), in Europe extensively used as food, has recently become naturalized abundantly on the American coast. See Littorina. In America the name is often applied to several large univalves, as Fulgur carica, and F. Canaliculata. Origin: From AS. Pinewincla a shellfish, in which pine- is fr. L. Pina, pinna, a kind of mussel, akin to Gr. Cf. Winkle. A trailing herb of the genus Vinca. The common perwinkle (Vinca minor) has opposite evergreen leaves and solitary blue or white flowers in their axils. In America it is often miscalled myrtle. See Myrtle. Origin: OE. Pervenke, AS. Pervince, fr. L. Pervinca. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Periwinkle

perivasculitis perivenous periventricular periventricular fibres perivertebral perivesical perivisceral perivisceral cavity perivisceritis perivitelline

perivitelline space periwig periwigged periwigging periwigs periwinkle (current term) periwinkle plant derivative periwinkles perizoma perjink

perjorative perjure perjured perjurer perjurers perjures perjuries perjuring perjurious perjuriously

Literary usage of Periwinkle

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Bookman (1911)
"Thus, while his latest book, periwinkle, is described in the subtitle as "An Idyl of ... In the same way he sees *periwinkle. By William Farquhar Payson. ..."

2. Cyclopedia of American Horticulture: Comprising Suggestions for Cultivation by Liberty Hyde Bailey, Wilhelm Miller (1902)
"Vinca minor, the Common periwinkle, or Running Myrtle. ... LARGER periwinkle. Larger in all its parts than V. minor, not quite hardy north, and rooting only ..."

3. Natural History Object Lessons: A Manual for Teachers by George Ricks (1891)
"The whelk and periwinkle are the best-known examples of the Sea-snail. I. The Shell. The teacher should guide the children in a comparison of the whelk and ..."

4. Natural History Object Lessons: A Manual for Teachers by George Ricks (1893)
"WHELK AND periwinkle. LITE specimens (in salt water) should if possible be placed before the class, in addition to the shells. The whelk and periwinkle are ..."

5. Negro Folk Rhymes: Wise and Otherwise by Thomas Washington Talley (1922)
"... stanza embodies one of the old superstitions. tThe periwinkle seems to have been used as an oracle by some Negroes in the days of their enslavement. ..."

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