Jump to content

pearl

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also:Pearl

English

[edit]
EnglishWikipediahas an article on:
Wikipedia
pearlon Wikipedia
pearl (typography)on Wikipedia
Pearls (1)

Etymology

[edit]

FromMiddle Englishperle,fromOld Frenchperleof uncertain etymology. Probably via unattestedMedieval Latin*pernula,fromLatinperna(“haunch;amarinebivalveshapedlike alegoflamb”)[1]but also derived fromMedieval Latinperla,fromLatinperula(“littlebag”).Its typographic use follows the name given byJean Jannonto the type used in his miniature editions ofVergil,Horace,& theNew Testamentin the 1620s, which were the smallest printed works to his time. Its surfing use derives from the supposed resemblance to pearl diving.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

pearl(countableanduncountable,pluralpearls)

  2. A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliantluster,with varyingtints,found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same asnacre,or mother-of-pearl. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.
  3. (figuratively)Somethingprecious.
    • c.1606(date written),William Shakespeare,“The Tragedie of Macbeth”,inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies[…](First Folio), London:[…]Isaac Iaggard,andEd[ward]Blount,published1623,→OCLC,[Act V, scene viii]:
      I see thee compassed with thy kingdom'spearl.
    • 1920,Herman Cyril McNeile,chapter 1, inBulldog Drummond:
      Hugh helped himself to bacon. "My dear fellow, she can think what she likes so long as she continues to grill bacon like this. Your wife is a treasure, James—apearlamongst women; and you can tell her so with my love. "
  4. Acapsuleofgelatinor similar substance containing liquid for e.g.medicinalapplication.
  5. Nacre,ormother-of-pearl.
  6. A whitishspeckor film on the eye.
    • 1641,John Milton,Animadversions upon The Remonstrants Defence Against Smectymnuus,Section III:
      Boast not of your eyes; it is feared you have Balaam's disease, apearlin your eye, Mammon's prestriction.
  7. A fish allied to theturbot;thebrill.
  8. A light-coloredtern.
  9. One of the circle oftubercleswhich form theburon a deer's antler.
  10. (uncountable,typography,printing,dated)Thesizeoftypebetweendiamondandagate,standardizedas 5-point.
  11. Afringeorborder.
  12. (obsolete)Ajewelorgem.
    • 1635,Douay Rheims Bible, Proverbs 20:15
      There is gold, and multitude ofpearles:but a precious vessel the lips of knowledge.
  13. (figurative)A valuable little nugget of information; especially, anaphorismortipthat is operationally useful for decision-making.
    Hyponym:pearl of wisdom
    clinicalpearls
  15. (euphemistic,vulgar,slang)Theclitoris.
    • 2010,Richard Knight,Simple Fantasies Can Come True,page10:
      My mouth and tongue finally find herpearl.Her clitoris.
    • 2012,Danie Baly,Born with a Curse: Secret Fantasies:
      Teasing herpearlshe shakes in my arms, rolling her eyes and throwing the pussy at me.
  16. Short forpearl tapioca.
  17. (heraldry)Argent,in blazoning by precious stones.
    • 1720,Francis Nichols,Rudiments of Honour,page296:
      Errol.Pearlthree Escutcheons Ruby. /Elgin.Topaz a Saltier and Chief Ruby, on a CantonPearla Lyon Rampant Saphyr, which last is their paternal Coat; and the Field Topaz, and Saltier, and Chief Ruby, was the Arms of KingRobert the Bruce,they altering the Field fromPearl(as he bore it) to Topaz.
    • 1726,John Guillim,The Banner Display'd; Or, an Abridgment of Guillim,page504:
      TheFieldis Ruby, on aBendTopaz,three MartletsDiamond. TheArmesof the most Noble and Puissant Lord,Edward Brabazon,Earl ofMeath,and Baron ofAtherdeein the Kingdom ofIreland.His Lordship'sAtchievementsare Quarterly ofsixteen Coats.1.Brabazon,as above. 2. Diamond, on a Chevron between three PickaxesPearl,as many Mullets Ruby, by the Name ofMosley.3. Saphire, ten Bezants, 4, 3, 2, 1, by theBisset.4.Pearl,on a Bend Diamond, nine Annulets conjoined in three Links Topaz.
    • 1754,John Lodge,The Peerage of Ireland; Or, a Genealogical History of the...,page71:
      (1)Pearl,a Cross, Ruby, with the Effigies of our Saviour thereon, Topaz, born in Memory of one of the Family's fighting against the Turks.

Synonyms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]

Translations

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

pearl(third-person singular simple presentpearls,present participlepearling,simple past and past participlepearled)

  1. (transitive,sometimesfigurative)To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl.
    • 1959,Anthony Burgess,Beds in the East(The Malayan Trilogy), published1972,page600:
      Syed Omar began to walk to the airport. Sweatpearledhis tough brown skin, his fat bounced in rhythm.
  2. (transitive)To cause to resemble pearls in shape; to make into small round grains.
    topearlbarley
  3. (transitive)To cause to resemble pearls in lustre or iridescence.
    • 1993,New Scientist,volume139,page62:
      A Teaching Company Scheme developing new technology forpearlinglight bulbs was established in October[…]
  4. (intransitive)To resemble pearl or pearls.
  5. (intransitive,of a liquid)Tobead;to form adroplet.
    • 2007,Angela Patten,Reliquaries,Salmon Publishing,→ISBN,page 5:
      I'm left here with the memory of all their shining words, like drops of waterpearlingon the window-pane
    • 2011September 1, Kristen Painter,Blood Rights: House of Comarré: Book 1,Hachette UK,→ISBN:
      Bloodpearledon the blade, its aroma filling the air.
    • 2022May 9, Lori Power,Backlash Bounty,The Wild Rose Press Inc,→ISBN:
      The razorlike edges sliced shallow seams through the callouses. The fluidpearledbut didn't run, and it stung in the saltwater.
  6. (intransitive)To hunt for pearls
    to gopearling
  7. (intransitive,surfing)To sink the nose of one'ssurfboardinto the water, often on takeoff.
    • 1999, Joanne VanMeter[1]:
      Used a pointed tip today and learned why I keptpearlingwith my round tipped board. Round noses like to dig into the water, causing frustrating wipeouts.
  8. (intransitive,surfing)Of the nose of the surfboard: to sink in this manner.
    • 2017,Jian,Sh-Boom: The Way of the World:
      He couldn't even turn the board or raise the nose. Consequently, the boardpearled,nose-dived into the water, throwing Lee off almost like being thrown from a horse. But he persisted.
  9. (intransitive,botany)Of aquatic plants: to produce visible bubbles on the stems and leaves duringphotosynthesis,usually in a simulated environment like an aquarium.

Derived terms

[edit]
Terms derived from the noun "pearl"

References

[edit]
  1. ^Oxford English Dictionary,3rd ed. "pearl,n.1".Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2005.

Anagrams

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=pearl&oldid=83518201"