PERIWINKLE Meaning and
Definition
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Periwinkle refers to both a small, flowering plant and a specific shade of bluish-purple color. As a plant, periwinkle is a low-growing evergreen herbaceous perennial that belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) and is scientifically known as Vinca minor. It is native to Europe but has spread to other parts of the world due to its ornamental value. The plant features glossy, dark green leaves and produces small, fragrant five-petaled flowers in shades of white, pink, or blue. It is often used as a ground cover in gardens, thanks to its hardiness and ability to thrive in various soil conditions.
The term periwinkle is also used to describe a specific color, which closely resembles the flower's blueish-purple hues. It is a soft, pastel shade that falls between a true blue and violet on the color spectrum. This shade is often associated with tranquility, relaxation, and femininity. Its hue is similar to the color of the flowers produced by the periwinkle plant, hence adopting its name.
In summary, periwinkle can refer to a small, evergreen plant with glossy leaves and fragrant flowers popular in gardens. It can also describe a soft, bluish-purple color reminiscent of the flowers produced by the periwinkle plant.
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• A creeping or binding plant-probably so called from its growth being similar to a tangled mass of twigs.
• A small whelk; a small shell-fish or seasnail, having a turbinated shell.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for PERIWINKLE *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for PERIWINKLE
- perwinkle
- perriwinkles
- oeriwinkle
- leriwinkle
- -eriwinkle
- 0eriwinkle
- pwriwinkle
- psriwinkle
- pdriwinkle
- prriwinkle
- p4riwinkle
- p3riwinkle
- peeiwinkle
- pediwinkle
- pefiwinkle
Etymology of PERIWINKLE
The word "periwinkle" has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Old English word "pinewincla", which was used to refer to a type of mollusk, specifically the "common periwinkle" (scientifically known as Littorina littorea).
Over time, the word evolved into "parwinkle" and then "periwinkle". The origin of its Old English name is not entirely clear, but it is believed to come from a combination of two words: "pin", which means "peg" or "pin", and "wincel", which means "shell". Thus, "periwinkle" could be seen as "pin-shaped shell" or "shell with spiral shape", likely referring to the shape of the mollusk's shell.
Similar spelling word for PERIWINKLE
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