noun
shamrock
SHAM-rahk/ˈʃæmrɑːk/
A small clover with three leaflets used as a symbol of Ireland.
The shamrock has three leaflets and an Irish tricolor ribbon around its pot.
Etymology
The Irish diminutive means “little clover,” linking the name to the small three-leafed plant used as Ireland’s emblem. The exact plant originally meant is uncertain.
In context
um since we can talk about our heritage is tonight mine is Irish and uh it would be a sin to kill a shamrock but uh the problem is the the herbicide
More examples
- She wore a small shamrock pin.
- The shamrock’s three leaflets formed a familiar Irish symbol.
- A patch of shamrocks grew near the path.
Forms
shamrock · shamrocks
Similar words
- clover
- Clover is the plant category; shamrock identifies a small three-leaflet plant used as an Irish symbol.
- four-leaf clover
- A four-leaf clover has an unusual fourth leaflet; a shamrock conventionally has three.