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shamrock
shamrock a plant with leaves composed of three leaflets. According to legend it was used by St. Patrick in explaining the doctrine of the Trinity; it is now used as the emblem of Ireland. An artificial or real shamrock leaf is customarily worn on St. Patrick's Day. The actual species of the true shamrock has long been debated, but the plants most often favored and used are the white clover ( Trifolium repens ), the black medic ( Medicago lupulina ), the wood sorrel ( Oxalis acetosella ), and a hop clover ( Trifolium minus ). All are classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida. Trifolium and Medicago are in the order Rosales, family Leguminosae; Oxalis is in the order Geraniales, family Oxalidaceae. |
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"shamrock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "shamrock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-shamrock.html "shamrock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-shamrock.html |
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shamrock
shamrock. References to the wearing of shamrock on St Patrick's Day can be traced back at least to 1681. The legend that the plant derives its association with the saint from his use of its three leaves to explain the concept of the Trinity was first recorded in 1726. Shamrocks were widely used in Volunteer flags and other Irish military insignia during the second half of the 18th century. Like the harp, the shamrock was subsequently incorporated into the official symbolism of the United Kingdom. George IV wore shamrock during his visit to Ireland in 1821, and it was included in the badges of the Royal Irish Constabulary and in the flags of Irish regiments of the British army.
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"shamrock." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "shamrock." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-shamrock.html "shamrock." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-shamrock.html |
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shamrock
shamrock the national emblem of Ireland, and traditionally said to have been employed by St Patrick to explain the nature of the Trinity. The shamrock of legend has been identified with a number of different related plants with three-lobed leaves.
The word is recorded in England from the late 16th century, and comes from Irish seamróg ‘trefoil’, diminutive of seamar ‘clover’. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "shamrock." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "shamrock." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-shamrock.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "shamrock." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-shamrock.html |
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shamrock
sham·rock / ˈshamˌräk/ • n. a low-growing, cloverlike plant (esp. Trifolium minus) of the pea family, with three-lobed leaves, used as the national emblem of Ireland. ∎ a spray or leaf of this plant. ORIGIN: late 16th cent.: from Irish seamróg ‘trefoil’ (diminutive of seamar ‘clover’). |
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"shamrock." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "shamrock." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-shamrock.html "shamrock." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-shamrock.html |
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shamrock
shamrock Plant with three-part leaves, usually taken to be Trifolium repens or T. dubium, the national emblem of Ireland. Legend tells that St Patrick used it to symbolize the Trinity. Other plants called shamrock include Oxalis acetosella and Medicago lupulina. Family Fabiaceae/Leguminosae.
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"shamrock." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "shamrock." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-shamrock.html "shamrock." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-shamrock.html |
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shamrock
shamrock XVI. — Ir. seamrǒg, dim. of seamar clover.
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T. F. HOAD. "shamrock." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "shamrock." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-shamrock.html T. F. HOAD. "shamrock." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-shamrock.html |
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shamrock
shamrock
•matchlock • padlock • armlock
•Belloc
•deadlock, headlock, wedlock
•hemlock • fetlock • airlock
•breeze block • gridlock • ziplock
•flintlock • Shylock
•forelock, oarlock, warlock
•roadblock • woodblock • sunblock
•gunlock • lovelock • firelock
•hammerlock • fetterlock • interlock
•Enoch • kapok • epoch • shamrock
•bedrock • pibroch • Sheetrock
•Ragnarök • bedsock • windsock
•shell shock • aftershock • fatstock
•Bartók
•deadstock, headstock
•penstock • tailstock • feedstock
•tick-tock • laughing stock • livestock
•nostoc, Rostock, Vladivostok, Vostok
•rootstock • Woodstock • bloodstock
•gunstock
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"shamrock." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "shamrock." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-shamrock.html "shamrock." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-shamrock.html |
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