Category:Shamrock

Sham"rock, n. Etym: [l. seamrog, seamar, trefoil, white clover, white Honeysuckle; akin to gael. seamrag.] (bot.)

Defn: a trifoliate plant used as a national emblem by the irish. The Legend is that st. Patrick once plucked a leaf of it for use in Illustrating the doctrine of the trinity.

Note: the original plant was probably a kind of wood sorrel (oxalis Acetocella); but now the name is given to the white clover (trifolium Repens), and the black medic (medicago lupulina).