shamrock
shamrock Lexical Profile
shamrock Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A low-growing plant with trifoliate (three-lobed) leaves, such as white clover or wood sorrel, universally recognized as the national emblem of Ireland.
"She pinned a fresh sprig of shamrock to her coat collar before heading out to the St. Patrick's Day parade."
A stylized design, graphical motif, or emblem depicting a three-lobed leaf, widely used to represent Irish identity, culture, and heritage.
"The local pub's wooden sign was painted bright green and bordered with golden shamrocks."
Word Nuance & Usage
While frequently conflated with the 'lucky' four-leaf clover, a true shamrock has exactly three leaves and is traditionally used to symbolize the Holy Trinity in Irish folklore.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the late 16th century from Irish 'seamróg', the diminutive form of 'seamar', meaning 'clover'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.