cinquefoil
cinquefoil Lexical Profile
cinquefoil Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various herbaceous flowering plants or small shrubs of the genus Potentilla in the rose family (Rosaceae), native primarily to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and characterized by compound leaves typically divided into five leaflets and five-petaled blossoms in shades of yellow, white, pink, or red.
"Bright yellow blossoms of creeping cinquefoil carpeted the sunny border of the cottage garden."
An ornamental design or architectural tracery figure consisting of five converging arcs or lobes arranged in a circle, widely used in Gothic stained-glass windows, arches, and heraldry.
"The stone mason carved a delicate cinquefoil at the apex of the cathedral's pointed window."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-Norman and Old French 'cincfoile', derived from Latin 'quinquefolium', a compound of 'quinque' (five) and 'folium' (leaf), referring to the five-leaflet structure of the plant.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.