English Explanatory Dictionary

trefoil

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several plants of the pea family, having compound, trifoliate leaves; especially one of the genus Trifolium.
  2. A symbol having the shape of such leaves, especially when used as an architectural ornament.
  3. Ellipsis of trefoil knot.

Pronunciation

/ˈtɹɛ.fɔɪl/ /ˈtɹiː.fɔɪl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-trefoil.wav

Word forms

trefoil trefoils

Etymology

From Middle English trefoil, from Old French trifoil, trefeul, from Latin trifolium, from tri- (“three”) + folium (“leaf”).

Synonyms

threefoil

Related words

trifoliolate trifolium

Derived words

austral trefoil bean trefoil big trefoil birdsfoot trefoil bird's-foot trefoil bog bird's-foot trefoil) burgundy trefoil burr trefoil bush trefoil hare's-foot trefoil heart trefoil hop trefoil lesser trefoil lesser hop trefoil lesser yellow trefoil marsh trefoil meadow bird's-foot trefoil milk trefoil moon trefoil native birdsfoot trefoil prairie bird's-foot trefoil prairie trefoil rabbit-foot clover showy tick trefoil shrubby trefoil snail trefoil sour trefoil Spanish trefoil stinking bean trefoil sweet trefoil thorny trefoil tick-trefoil water trefoil white trefoil yellow trefoil
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