periwinkle

1 of 2

noun (1)

per·​i·​win·​kle ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl 

1

: any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: such 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

periwinkle

2 of 2

noun (2)

: any of various gastropod mollusks: such 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

Illustration of periwinkle

• periwinkle a

Examples of periwinkle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hannah Howland, perennials manager at Plants Unlimited, notes that her personal favorite is the periwinkle Roxanne variety. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026

Those beautiful periwinkle blooms are wonderful to see but sticky and toxic to the paint on your car. —Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

In the middle pot, low-maintenance Little Lucky Pot of Gold lantanas, dwarf ‘Little Blanche’ periwinkles, Million Bells Trailing Blue calibrachoas, and angelonias add a touch of color. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 1 June 2026

The vast and diverse plant category of ground covers includes tough, fast-spreading creeping wire vine, drought-tolerant Blue Rug Juniper or Myoporum, and colorful flowering ground covers like iceplant and common periwinkle. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

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)

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing periwinkle

• Madagascar periwinkle
• rosy periwinkle

Rhymes for periwinkle

• crinkle
• sprinkle
• tinkle
• twinkle
• winkle
• wrinkle

Kids Definition

periwinkle

1 of 2 noun

per·​i·​win·​kle ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl 

: an evergreen herb that spreads along the ground and has shiny leaves and blue or white flowers

periwinkle

2 of 2 noun

1

: any of various small edible marine snails of coastal regions

2

: the shell of a periwinkle

Etymology

Noun

Old English perwince "periwinkle vine," from Latin pervinca (same meaning)

Noun

Old English pinewincle "an edible sea snail"

Medical Definition

periwinkle

noun

per·​i·​win·​kle ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl 

: any of several trailing or woody evergreen plants of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae)

especially : rosy periwinkle