SG Heritage Dictionary

Periwinkle [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. A sea snail, or small shell fish.

2. A plant of the genus Vinca.

Periwinkle [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. 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.

2. A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.