shamrock means 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.
shamrock is pronounced /ˈʃæm.ɹɒk/.
Why “shamrock” is a great word
A trefoil leaf, particularly of white clover or a similar plant, adopted as the national emblem of Ireland. From Irish seamróg, a diminutive of seamar ("clover"), from Old Irish semróc, from semar, semair ("clover"), from Proto-Celtic *semarā, *semaris, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *semh₁r-, *smeh₁r-. Unlike "clover," a blanket botanical term, or "trefoil," a geometric descriptor, the shamrock is a cultural cipher, steeped in Irish identity. It is the humble sprig pinned to a lapel on a wet March morning, the bright green emblem stamped on a pub's frosted window, the three-in-one leaf pressed between the pages of an emigrant's prayer book—a minor, perennial flag, turning the simplest leaf into an act of belonging.
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”).
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.e.g.“She wore a shamrock in honor of her Irish ancestry.”
- Any of several species of small clover-like plant species, with trefoil leaves, especially Trifolium repens.e.g.“The fields were covered with shamrocks.”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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