shamrock

English
WOTD – 17 March 2009
a shamrock (trefoil leaf).

Etymology

From Irish seamróg, from Old Irish semróc, diminutive of semar, semair (“clover”), from Proto-Celtic *semarā, *semaris (compare Gaulish uisumaris (“clover”)), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *semh₁r-, *smeh₁r-. Related to Old Norse smári (“clover”) and possibly Georgian სამყურა (samq̇ura, “clover”).

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈʃæm.ɹɒk/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈʃæm.ɹɑk/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Rhymes: (US) -æmɹɑk

Noun

shamrock (plural shamrocks)

  1. The trefoil leaf of any small clover, especially Trifolium repens, or such a leaf from a clover-like plant, commonly used as a symbol of Ireland.
    She wore a shamrock in honor of her Irish ancestry.
  2. Any of several species of small clover-like plant species, with trefoil leaves, especially Trifolium repens.
    The fields were covered with shamrocks.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Descendants
  • → Japanese: シャムロック
  • → Korean: 섐록 (syaemnok)

Translations
any of several small plants, forms of clover — see clover

See also

References
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