A trefoil (from Latintrifolium 'three-leaved plant') is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings, used in architecture, Pagan and Christian symbolism, among other areas. The term is also applied to other symbols with a threefold shape. A similar shape with four rings is called a quatrefoil.
'Trefoil' is a term in Gothic architecture given to the ornamental foliation or cusping introduced in the heads of window-lights, tracery, and panellings, in which the centre 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 Cathedral (1222–1235). The fourfold version of an architectural trefoil is a quatrefoil.
A simple trefoil shape in itself can be symbolic of the Trinity,[1] while 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, similar to a barbed quatrefoil. Two forms of a trefoil combined with a triangle are shown below:
Outlined
Interlaced
A dove, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit, is sometimes depicted within the outlined form of the trefoil combined with a triangle.
Architectural layoutedit
In architecture and archaeology, a 'trefoil' describes a layout or floor plan consisting of three apses in clover-leaf shape, as for example in the Megalithic temples of Malta.
Particularly in church architecture, such a layout may be called a "triconchos".
Evolution of layout of Maltese Megalithic temples; Skorba (upper right) has a typical trefoil plan
A typical triconchos
Heraldryedit
The heraldic 'trefoil' is a stylized clover. It should not be confused with the figure named in French heraldry tiercefeuille ("threefoil"), which is a stylized flower with three petals, and differs from the heraldic trefoil in being not slipped.[2][a]
Trefoil in heraldry
Or a fess sable between three trefoils vert
Gules a cross flory argent between four tiercefeuilles Or
Symmetrical trefoils are particularly popular as warning and informational symbols. If a box containing hazardous material is moved around and shifted into different positions, it is still easy to recognize the symbol,[5] while the distinctive trefoil design of the recycling symbol makes it easy for a consumer to notice and identify the packaging the symbol has been printed on as recyclable. Easily stenciled symbols are also favored.
One particular stylized form of the heraldic trefoil is used as the main element in the logo of most Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting organizations. For Girl Scouts, the three trefoil leaves represent the three-fold promise: "To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout law."
While the green trefoil is considered by many to be the symbol of Ireland, the harp has much greater officially recognized status. Therefore, shamrocks generally do not appear on Irish coins or postage stamps.
A trefoil is also part of the logo for Adidas Originals, which also includes three stripes.
^"Online Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms - Symbol 24:51". Symbols.com. 1997–2006. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
^Krleža, Miroslav (1933). "Kraljevska ugarska domobranska novela". Croatian God Mars (1 ed.). Zagreb: Minerva. p. 130. ISBN9788601013537. U stara mirna vremena, kada je koji general držao smotru, pa se na cvjetnoj tratini skupili bataljoni zdravih četa u kalpacima i dolamama u paradi, svi okićeni trolistom hrastovim, svi ulašteni i izglačani, a trube udaraju i glazbe tresu zrakom, te tutnji kavalkada sa crvenim svilenim ruhom generaliteta i zelenim perjanicama, onda je bilo i neke inspiracije u tim puškohvatima. Svi stari soldati gledali su romantično na paradni osamnaesti augusta koji je počeo s topničkim salvama, a svršavao s lampionadom.
^. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
^"Committee on Microbiological Safety - HMS". www.hms.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
External linksedit
Look up trefoil in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
February 15, 2024
trefoil, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, schol. For other uses see Trefoil disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Trefoil news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message A trefoil from Latin trifolium three leaved plant is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture Pagan and Christian symbolism among other areas The term is also applied to other symbols with a threefold shape A similar shape with four rings is called a quatrefoil Architectural trefoil Contents 1 Architecture 1 1 Ornamentation 1 2 Architectural layout 2 Heraldry 3 Symbols 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksArchitecture editOrnamentation edit Trefoil is a term in Gothic architecture given to the ornamental foliation or cusping introduced in the heads of window lights tracery and panellings in which the centre 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 Cathedral 1222 1235 The fourfold version of an architectural trefoil is a quatrefoil A simple trefoil shape in itself can be symbolic of the Trinity 1 while 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 similar to a barbed quatrefoil Two forms of a trefoil combined with a triangle are shown below nbsp Outlined nbsp InterlacedA dove which symbolizes the Holy Spirit is sometimes depicted within the outlined form of the trefoil combined with a triangle Architectural layout edit In architecture and archaeology a trefoil describes a layout or floor plan consisting of three apses in clover leaf shape as for example in the Megalithic temples of Malta Particularly in church architecture such a layout may be called a triconchos nbsp Evolution of layout of Maltese Megalithic temples Skorba upper right has a typical trefoil plan nbsp A typical triconchosHeraldry editThe heraldic trefoil is a stylized clover It should not be confused with the figure named in French heraldry tiercefeuille threefoil which is a stylized flower with three petals and differs from the heraldic trefoil in being not slipped 2 a nbsp Trefoil in heraldry nbsp Or a fess sable between three trefoils vert nbsp Gules a cross flory argent between four tiercefeuilles Or nbsp Croatian trefoil badge worn by Royal Croatian Home Guard during Austria Hungary depicting oak leaves 3 nbsp Croatian trefoil used by the Axis sympathetic Croatian Air Force Legion in World War II formed from a defaced Balkenkreuz 4 Symbols editSymmetrical trefoils are particularly popular as warning and informational symbols If a box containing hazardous material is moved around and shifted into different positions it is still easy to recognize the symbol 5 while the distinctive trefoil design of the recycling symbol makes it easy for a consumer to notice and identify the packaging the symbol has been printed on as recyclable Easily stenciled symbols are also favored nbsp Ionizing radiation hazard trefoil nbsp Fallout shelter trefoil nbsp Biological hazard trefoil nbsp Universal recycling symbol nbsp VORTAC Aircraft Navigation Beacon nbsp One particular stylized form of the heraldic trefoil is used as the main element in the logo of most Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting organizations For Girl Scouts the three trefoil leaves represent the three fold promise To serve God and my country to help people at all times and to live by the Girl Scout law While the green trefoil is considered by many to be the symbol of Ireland the harp has much greater officially recognized status Therefore shamrocks generally do not appear on Irish coins or postage stamps A trefoil is also part of the logo for Adidas Originals which also includes three stripes See also editClover or Trefoil a plant Fleur de Lys Foil architecture Shamrock Trefoil domain Trefoil arch Trefoil knot Torus knot QuatrefoilNotes edit The French terms quartefeuille and quintefeuille are translated as quatrefoils and cinquefoils References edit Our Christian Symbols by Friedrich Rest ISBN 0 8298 0099 9 p 17 Online Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms Symbol 24 51 Symbols com 1997 2006 Retrieved 5 January 2010 Krleza Miroslav 1933 Kraljevska ugarska domobranska novela Croatian God Mars 1 ed Zagreb Minerva p 130 ISBN 9788601013537 U stara mirna vremena kada je koji general drzao smotru pa se na cvjetnoj tratini skupili bataljoni zdravih ceta u kalpacima i dolamama u paradi svi okiceni trolistom hrastovim svi ulasteni i izglacani a trube udaraju i glazbe tresu zrakom te tutnji kavalkada sa crvenim svilenim ruhom generaliteta i zelenim perjanicama onda je bilo i neke inspiracije u tim puskohvatima Svi stari soldati gledali su romanticno na paradni osamnaesti augusta koji je poceo s topnickim salvama a svrsavao s lampionadom History of 15 Jg 52 Archived from the original on 7 July 2011 Retrieved 22 April 2011 Committee on Microbiological Safety HMS www hms harvard edu Retrieved 2 April 2018 External links edit nbsp Look up trefoil in Wiktionary the free dictionary Explanation of Christian symbolism of Trefoil Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trefoil amp oldid 1207058240, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
