periwinkle

3 definitions found

periwinkle - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Periwinkle \Per"i*win`kle\, 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]
  
     Note: In America the name is often applied to several large
           univalves, as Fulgur carica, and Fulgur canaliculata
           .
           [1913 Webster]

  Periwinkle \Per"i*win`kle\, n. [OE. pervenke, AS. pervince, fr.
     L. pervinca.] (Bot.)
     A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: 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]

periwinkle - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  periwinkle
      n 1: chiefly trailing poisonous plants with blue flowers
      2: commonly cultivated Old World woody herb having large pinkish
         to red flowers [syn: periwinkle, rose periwinkle,
         Madagascar periwinkle, old maid, Cape periwinkle, red   periwinkle
         , cayenne jasmine, Catharanthus roseus, Vinca   rosea
         ]
      3: small edible marine snail; steamed in wine or baked [syn:
         periwinkle, winkle]
      4: edible marine gastropod [syn: periwinkle, winkle]