shamrock
UK[ˈʃæmrɒk]US[ˈʃæmrɑːk]
n
A small plant with three round leaves on each stem, used as the national symbol of Ireland.
n
Any of several plants, such as a clover or wood sorrel, that have three-lobed leaves.
Etymology
The word 'shamrock' entered English in the late 16th century, borrowed directly from the Irish Gaelic word 'seamróg'. This Irish term is a diminutive of 'seamar', meaning 'clover'. The diminutive suffix '-óg' gives the sense of "a little clover." The plant's deep association with Ireland and St. Patrick, who is said to have used its three leaves to explain the Christian Holy Trinity, cemented its symbolic meaning. Thus, the word's journey is from a descriptive Gaelic term for a common plant to a potent national and cultural emblem in English.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Irish. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into productive morphemes within modern English spelling.
Examples
She wore a sprig of shamrock in her lapel on St. Patrick's Day.
The field was dotted with white clover, but he searched for the traditional green shamrock.
The shamrock is a registered trademark of the Irish government.