Periwinkle
Periwinkle , noun
[From Anglo-Saxon pinewincla a shellfish, in which pine- is from Latin pina, pinna, a kind of mussel, akin to Greek {not transcribed}. Compare Winkle.]
(Zoology) Any small marine gastropod shell of the genus Littorina. The common European species (Littorina littorea), in Europe extensively used as food, has recently become naturalized abundantly on the American coast. See Littorina.
In America the name is often applied to several large univalves, as Fulgur carica, and Fulgur canaliculata.
Periwinkle , noun
[Old English pervenke, Anglo-Saxon pervince, from Latin pervinca.]
(Botany) A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.
The common perwinkle (Vinca minor) has opposite evergreen leaves and solitary blue or white flowers in their axils. In America it is often miscalled myrtle. See under Myrtle.