Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Periwinkle
Per′i-winˊkle
,Noun.
[From AS.
pinewincla
a shellfish, in which pine-
is fr. L. pina
, pinna
, a kind of mussel, akin to Gr. [GREEK]. 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
. ☞ In America the name is often applied to several large univalves, as
Fulgur carica
, and Fulgur canaliculata
. Per′i-winˊkle
,Noun.
[OE.
pervenke
, AS. pervince
, fr. L. pervinca
.] (Bot.)
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 under Myrtle
. Webster 1828 Edition
Periwinkle
PER'IWINKLE
,Noun.
1.
A sea snail, or small shell fish.2.
A plant of the genus Vinca.