GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Periwinkle , n. [From AS. pinewincla a shellfish, in which pine- is fr. L. pina, pinna, a kind of mussel, akin to Gr. . Cf. Winkle.] (Zool.) 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.
   1913 Webster
   ☞ In America the name is often applied to several large univalves, as Fulgur carica, and Fulgur canaliculata.
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

2.       
   Periwinkle, n. [OE. pervenke, AS. pervince, fr. L. pervinca.] (Bot.) A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.
   1913 Webster
   ☞ 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 under Myrtle.
   1913 Webster