shamrock
English
WOTD – 17 March 2009
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 (General Australian): (file) - Rhymes: (US) -æmɹɑk
Noun
shamrock (plural shamrocks)
- 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.
- 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
trefoil leaf of any clover
|
any of several small plants, forms of clover — see clover