shamrock
nounUK /ˈʃæm.ɹɒk/ · US /ˈʃæm.ɹɑk/
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”).
1
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.
2
Any of several species of small clover-like plant species, with trefoil leaves, especially Trifolium repens.
- The fields were covered with shamrocks.
- Derived terms
- shamrockery, shamrocklike, shamrocky, wet the shamrock
- Related terms
- four-leaf clover