# trefoil

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɹɛ.fɔɪl/ · frequency rank #72,841

## Definitions
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.

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

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/trefoil