Main Entry:

tre·foil

Pronunciation:

\ˈtrē-ˌfȯi(-ə)l, ˈtre-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin trifolium, from tri- + folium leaf — more at blade

Date:

15th century

1 a: clover 1 ; broadly : any of several leguminous herbs (as bird's-foot trefoil) with leaves that have or appear to have three leaflets b: a trifoliolate leaf2: an ornament or symbol in the form of a stylized trifoliolate leaf

[trefoil illustration]