shamrock Meaning, Definition & Usage
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noun creeping European clover having white to pink flowers and bright green leaves; naturalized in United States; widely grown for forage
white clover; dutch clover; Trifolium repens.
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noun Eurasian plant with heart-shaped trifoliate leaves and white purple-veined flowers
Oxalis acetosella; common wood sorrel; cuckoo bread.
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noun clover native to Ireland with yellowish flowers; often considered the true or original shamrock
Trifolium dubium; lesser yellow trefoil; hop clover.
WordNet
Sham"rock noun
Etymology
L.Definitions
(Bot.) A trifoliate plant used as a national emblem by the Irish. The legend is that St. Patrick once plucked a leaf of it for use in illustrating the doctrine of the trinity. ✍ The original plant was probably a kind of wood sorrel ( Oxalis Acetocella ); but now the name is given to the white clover (Trifolium repens ), and the black medic (Medicago lupulina ).