I. ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl noun
Etymology: Middle English perwinke, from Old English perwince, from Vulgar Latin * pervinca, short for Latin vincapervinca
Date: before 12th century
1. : any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: as
a.
(1) : a European creeper ( Vinca minor ) widely cultivated as a ground cover and for its blue or white flowers — called also myrtle
(2) : a trailing plant ( Vinca major ) with large blue flowers that is used as a ground cover and in window boxes
b. : rosy periwinkle
2. : a light purplish blue — called also periwinkle blue
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English * periwinkle, alteration of Old English pīnewincle, from Latin pina, a kind of mussel (from Greek) + Old English -wincle (akin to Danish vincle snail shell)
Date: circa 1530
: any of various gastropod mollusks: as
a. : any of a genus ( Littorina ) of edible littoral marine snails ; also : any of various similar or related marine snails
b. : any of several North American freshwater snails
[
periwinkle a
]