Definitions for: Periwinkle


[n] edible marine gastropod
[n] small edible marine snail; steamed in wine or baked
[n] commonly cultivated Old World woody herb having large pinkish to red flowers
[n] chiefly trailing poisonous plants with blue flowers



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.] (Zo["o]l.)
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.

Note: In America the name is often applied to several large
univalves, as Fulgur carica, and F. canaliculata.


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

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.

Synonyms: Cape periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus, cayenne jasmine, Madagascar periwinkle, old maid, red periwinkle, rose periwinkle, Vinca rosea, winkle, winkle

See Also: Catharanthus, genus Catharanthus, genus Littorina, genus Vinca, herb, herbaceous plant, large periwinkle, Littorina, myrtle, periwinkle, periwinkle, seafood, seasnail, subshrub, suffrutex, Vinca, Vinca major, Vinca minor

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