Definition of the word periwinkle

The origin of the word "periwinkle" can be traced back to the Old English language, where it was known as peoruweleg. This word, in turn, is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word fyrkerlof, meaning "fringed leaf." Peoruweleg was the Anglo-Saxon name for the small, blue-purple flowering plant that we now commonly refer to as periwinkle. The plant was also known by different names in other languages, such as wild violet in French and myrtleforessia in Latin. The Old English name for periwinkle emerged in the late 9th century, and it eventually found its way into Middle English around the 13th century. By the 16th century, the word "periwinkle" had become well established in the English lexicon, and it has remained in use ever since. The origins of the Old Norse term fyrkerlof, which provided the root for the Old English word peoruweleg, are less clear. It's possible that the name refers to the fringed or feathery leaf structure of the periwinkle plant, which may have resembled the coastal plant called thrift, or sea pink, in Old Norse folklore. In any case, the Anglo-Saxon origins of the word periwinkle serve as a reminder of the rich linguistic and botanical heritage that we share with ancient Germanic cultures.