periwinkle

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun chiefly trailing poisonous plants with blue flowers
  2. noun commonly cultivated Old World woody herb having large pinkish to red flowers
  3. noun small edible marine snail; steamed in wine or baked

Etymology

Diminutive of Middle English perwinke, from Old English perfince, perwince (compare Middle High German berwinke), from Latin pervinca (compare French pervenche, Italian pervinca).

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