cinquefoil Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of a numerous plants grown for their five-petaled flowers; abundant in temperate regions; alleged to have medicinal properties
    five-finger.
  2. noun an ornamental carving consisting of five arcs arranged in a circle

WordNet

Cinque"foil` noun
Etymology
Cinque five + foil, F. feuille leaf. See Foil.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) The name of several different species of the genus Potentilla; -- also called five-finger, because of the resemblance of its leaves to the fingers of the hand.
  2. (Arch.) An ornamental foliation having five points or cups, used in windows, panels, etc. Gwilt.

Webster 1913