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trefoil

1. (Science: botany) Any plant of the genus trifolium, which includes the white clover, red clover, etc.; less properly, applied also to the nonesuch, or black medic. See Clover, and Medic.

2. An ornamental foliation consisting of three divisions, or foils.

3. A charge representing the clover leaf.

Origin: L. Tres three _ E. Foil leaf; cf. F. Frefle, It. Trifoglio, L. Trifolium. See Tri-, Foil leaf, and cf. Trifoly.