shamrock
NounUS[sham-rok]/ˈʃæmˌrɑk/2 syllables
Synonyms:
white cloverdutch cloverTrifolium repenscommon wood sorrelcuckoo breadOxalis acetosellahop cloverlesser yellow trefoilTrifolium dubium
Open English WordNet
Noun (3)
- creeping European clover having white to pink flowers and bright green leaves; naturalized in United States; widely grown for forageSynonyms: white cloverdutch cloverTrifolium repensType of clover, trefoil
- Eurasian plant with heart-shaped trifoliate leaves and white purple-veined flowersSynonyms: common wood sorrelcuckoo breadOxalis acetosellaType of oxalis, sorrel
- clover native to Ireland with yellowish flowers; often considered the true or original shamrockSynonyms: hop cloverlesser yellow trefoilTrifolium dubiumType of clover, trefoil
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Sham′rock noun
Origin: L. seamrog, seamar, trefoil, white clover, white honeysuckle; akin to Gael. seamrag.
Botany A trifoliate plant used as a national emblem by the Irish. The legend is that St. Patrick once plucked a leaf of it for use in illustrating the doctrine of the trinity.
☞ The original plant was probably a kind of wood sorrel (Oxalis Acetocella); but now the name is given to the white clover (Trifolium repens), and the black medic (Medicago lupulina).
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54