shamrock

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”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʃæm.ɹɒk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈʃæm.ɹɑk/

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shamrock (plural shamrocks)

1. 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.

   She wore a shamrock in honor of her Irish ancestry.

2. Any of several small plants, forms of clover, with trefoil leaves, especially Trifolium repens.

   The fields were covered with shamrocks.

• (trefoil leaf): trefoil
• (any of several small plants): clover, trefoil

• four-leaf clover