Winkle \Win"kle\, n. [AS. wincle.]

(Zo["o]l.)
   (a) Any periwinkle. --Holland.
   (b) Any one of various marine spiral gastropods, esp., in the United States, either of two species of Fulgar (F. canaliculata, and F. carica).

Note: These are large mollusks which often destroy large numbers of oysters by drilling their shells and sucking their blood.

Sting winkle, a European spinose marine shell (Murex erinaceus). See Illust. of Murex.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)