A trefoil () is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings, used in

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...

, Pagan and

Christian symbolism Christian symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork or events, by Christianity. It invests objects or actions with an inner meaning expressing Christian ideas. The symbolism of the early Church was characterized by be ...

, 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 A quatrefoil (anciently caterfoil) is a decorative element consisting of a symmetrical shape which forms the overall outline of four partially overlapping circles of the same diameter. It is found in art, architecture, heraldry and traditional ...

Architecture

Ornamentation

'Trefoil' is a term in

Gothic architecture Gothic architecture is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High Middle Ages, High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It evolved f ...

given to the ornamental foliation or cusping introduced in the heads of window-lights,

tracery Tracery is an architectural device by which windows (or screens, panels, and vaults) are divided into sections of various proportions by stone ''bars'' or ''ribs'' of moulding. Most commonly, it refers to the stonework elements that support th ...

, and panellings, in which the centre takes the form of a three-lobed

leaf A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the plant stem, stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leav ...

(formed from three partially overlapping circles). One of the earliest examples is in the plate tracery at

Winchester Cathedral The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity,Historic England. "Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity (1095509)". ''National Heritage List for England''. Retrieved 8 September 2014. Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun, commonly known as Winches ...

(1222–1235). The fourfold version of an architectural trefoil is a

. A simple trefoil shape in itself can be symbolic of the

Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...

, while a trefoil combined with an equilateral triangle was also a moderately common symbol of the Christian Trinity during the

late Middle Ages The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...

in some parts of Europe, similar to a barbed quatrefoil. Two forms of a trefoil combined with a triangle are shown below: File:Trefoil-Architectural-Equilateral-Triangle-outlined.svg, alt=The outline of three interlocking circles with an equilateral triangle in the centre., Outlined File:Trefoil-Architectural-Equilateral-Triangle-interlaced.svg, alt=Three interlocking circles with a triangle in the centre, the full, interlocking lines of each now shown., Interlaced A

dove Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with small heads, relatively short necks and slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. ...

, which symbolizes the

Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit, otherwise known as the Holy Ghost, is a concept within the Abrahamic religions. In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is understood as the divine quality or force of God manifesting in the world, particularly in acts of prophecy, creati ...

, is sometimes depicted within the outlined form of the trefoil combined with a triangle.

Architectural layout

In architecture and archaeology, a 'trefoil' describes a layout or

floor plan In architecture and building engineering, a floor plan is a technical drawing to scale, showing a view from above, of the relationships between rooms, spaces, traffic patterns, and other physical features at one level of a structure. Dimensio ...

consisting of three

apse In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault (architecture), vault or semi-dome, also known as an ' ...

s in clover-leaf shape, as for example in the

Megalithic temples of Malta The Megalithic Temples of Malta () are several prehistoric temples, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, built during three distinct periods approximately between 3600 BC and 2500 BC on the island country of Malta. They had been claimed ...

. Particularly in church architecture, such a layout may be called a "triconchos". File:Evolution du plan des temples copie.jpg, alt=A diagram of six examples of evolving temple floor plans, evolving clockwise, labelled ("temple typology"). The floor plans evolve from small, simple rooms to much larger and more elaborate constructions., Evolution of layout of Maltese Megalithic temples; Skorba (upper right) has a typical trefoil plan File:Trikonchos.gif, alt=A triconchos floor plan, showing a wall with a door on the left side and three trefoil-like alcoves on the right., A typical triconchos

Heraldry

The heraldic 'trefoil' is a stylized

clover Clovers, also called trefoils, are plants of the genus ''Trifolium'' (), consisting of about 300 species of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae originating in Europe. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with the highest diversit ...

. It should not be confused with the figure named in French heraldry ("threefoil"), which is a stylized flower with three petals, and differs from the heraldic trefoil in being not slipped. File:Héraldique meuble trèfle 1.svg, Trefoil in heraldry File:Blason famille fr Duprat.svg, ''Or a fess sable between three trefoils vert'' File:Blason ville fr Boissy-sans-Avoir (Yvelines).svg, ''Gules a cross flory argent between four tiercefeuilles Or'' File:16. varaždinska.jpg, Croatian trefoil badge worn by Royal Croatian Home Guard during

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

, depicting oak leaves File:CroatianTrefoil.svg, Croatian trefoil used by the

Axis An axis (: axes) may refer to: Mathematics *A specific line (often a directed line) that plays an important role in some contexts. In particular: ** Coordinate axis of a coordinate system *** ''x''-axis, ''y''-axis, ''z''-axis, common names ...

-sympathetic Croatian Air Force Legion in World War II, formed from a defaced ''

Balkenkreuz The ''Balkenkreuz'' () is a straight-armed cross that was first introduced in 1916–1918 and later became the emblem of the ''Wehrmacht'' (German Armed Forces) and its branches from 1935 until the end of World War II. It was used by the '' Wehr ...

Symbols

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, while the distinctive trefoil design of the

recycling symbol The universal recycling symbol ( or in Unicode) is a symbol consisting of three chasing arrows folded in a Möbius strip. It is an internationally recognized symbol for recycling. The symbol originated on the first Earth Day in 1970, created ...

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. File:Radiation warning symbol.svg, Ionizing radiation hazard trefoil File:Fallout shelter symbol.svg,

Fallout shelter A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designated to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War. Durin ...

trefoil File:Biohazard symbol.svg, Biological hazard trefoil File:Recycle001.svg, Universal

File:Pictogram_VORTAC.svg, VORTAC Aircraft Navigation Beacon File:WikiProject Scouting trefoil fade.svg, One particular stylized form of the heraldic trefoil is used as the main element in the logo of most

Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting A Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. Girl Scouts and Girl Scout organizations already existed in Britain and ...

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.

Explanatory notes

References

External links

{{Wiktionary, trefoil
Explanation of Christian symbolism of Trefoil
Christian symbols Heraldic charges Ornaments Piecewise-circular curves Symbols Visual motifs