shamrock

Meaning

Noun

• 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.
• Any of several species of small clover-like plant species, with trefoil leaves, especially Trifolium repens.

Related

Similar words

• trefoil
• clover, trefoil

Origin

• From Irish seamróg, from Old Irish semróc, diminutive of semar, semair, 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 ("clover").