Trefoil

Trefoil (from Latin trifolium, "three-leaved plant", French trèfle, German Dreiblatt and Dreiblattbogen) is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings.

Trademark

The green trefoil is registered under international trade-mark conventions as a symbol of Ireland. Shamrocks do not appear on Irish coins, bank-notes or postage stamps, as a rule.

Architecture

Trefoil is a term in Gothic architecture given to the ornamental foliation or cusping introduced in the heads of window-lights, tracery, panellings, etc., in which the center takes the form of a three-lobed leaf (formed from three partially-overlapping circles). One of the earliest examples is in the plate tracery at Winchester (1222 - 1235). The fourfold version of an architectural trefoil is a quatrefoil.

A trefoil combined with an equilateral triangle was also a moderately common symbol of the Christian Trinity during the late Middle Ages in some parts of Europe. Two forms of this are shown below:

A dove, symbolic of the Holy Spirit, is sometimes depicted within the outlined form of the trefoil combined with a triangle.

Symbols

• The symbol indicating radioactivity.
• One particular stylized form of the heraldic trefoil is used as the main element in the logo of most Girl Guide and Girl Scout organizations and is one of the more popular Girl Scout Cookies.
• The logo of Adidas.

Radioactive hazard trefoil

Biological hazard trefoil

Héraldique meuble trèfle 1.svg One depiction of the trefoil of heraldry (stylized three-leaf plant)

FalloutshelterinmageCivilDefense.jpg Fallout shelter trefoil.

Other meanings

• A cross-sectional arrangement of electrical cables that minimises electrodynamic forces during fault conditions.

External links

• Explanation of Christian symbolism of Trefoil

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