periwinkle

¹per·i·win·kle

noun \ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl\

Definition of PERIWINKLE

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

Origin of PERIWINKLE

Middle English perwinke, from Old English perwince, from Vulgar Latin *pervinca, short for Latin vincapervinca

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

Rhymes with PERIWINKLE

Rip van Winkle