pearl
noun
- color
- hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusc
verb
- to dive, fish, or search for pearls
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /pɜːl/ / [pʰəːɫ] / /pɝl/
name
Etymology: From pearl. * (river in China): From Chinese 珠江 (Zhūjiāng, Zyu1 Gong1, “Pearl River”); calque of Chinese 珠 (zhū, zyu1, “pearl”). * (haven in Hawaii): From Hawaiian Wai Momi (“pearl water”); calque of Hawaiian momi (“pearl”).
- A unisex given name from English.
“Her Pearl!—For so had Hester called her; not as a name expressive of her aspect, which had nothing of the calm, white, unimpassioned lustre that would be indicated by the comparison. But she named the infant "Pearl," as being of great price,—purchased with all she had,—her mother's only treasure!”
“"What was your name?" "Pearl." Ruby and Pearl, mother and daughter. "It's an ugly name, isn't it?" "No, it isn't". And I meant it, it wasn't. "Old-fashioned, perhaps, but nice." She stared at me. "Do you know what pearls are? They're ugliness: dirt or sand gets in an oyster and the oyster coats it over so that it won't be irritating."”
- A unisex given name from English.
- A surname from English.
- A placename:
“The only news of interest brought by the Calcutta and China mail is that the river Pearl, in Southern China, had been explored by a party of the British to the distance of 195 miles.”
“During these ten years the northern province of Chihli, with a population of over 32,000,000, has been inundated thrice; the Huai River running through three central provinces, with people more in number than half those of the United States, overflowed twice; the two provinces of Hunan and Kiangsi, south of the Yangtsze River, likewise densely populated, have also been inundated twice, and Shantung Province, with its teeming millions, has had its territory flooded from the outbreak of the Yellow River; while the southern rivers, the Pearl in Kwangtung Province, the Min in Fukien Province, and other streams have, during the period, more than once contributed their toll of destruction.”
- A placename:
- A placename:
noun
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English perle, from Old French perle of uncertain etymology. Probably via unattested Medieval Latin *pernula, from Latin perna (“haunch; a marine bivalve shaped like a leg of lamb”) but also derived from Medieval Latin perla, from Latin perula (“little bag”). Its typographic use follows the name given by Jean Jannon to the type used in his miniature editions of Vergil, Horace, & the New Testament in the 1620s, which were the smallest printed works to his time. Its surfing use derives from the supposed resemblance to pearl diving.
- A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, 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 as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.
- A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, 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 as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.
- Something precious.
“I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl.”
“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—a pearl amongst women; and you can tell her so with my love."”
- A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for, e.g., medicinal application.
- A whitish speck or film on the eye.
“Boast not of your eyes; it is feared you have Balaam's disease, a pearl in your eye, Mammon's prestriction.”
- A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
- A light-colored tern.
- One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.
- A fringe or border.
- A valuable little nugget of information; especially, an aphorism or tip that is operationally useful for decision-making.
“clinical pearls”
- The clitoris.
“My mouth and tongue finally find her pearl. Her clitoris.”
“Teasing her pearl she shakes in my arms, rolling her eyes and throwing the pussy at me.”
- Ellipsis of pearl tapioca.
- Argent, in blazoning by precious stones.
“Errol. Pearl three Escutcheons Ruby. / Elgin. Topaz a Saltier and Chief Ruby, on a Canton Pearl a Lyon Rampant Saphyr, which last is their paternal Coat; and the Field Topaz, and Saltier, and Chief Ruby, was the Arms of King Robert the Bruce, they altering the Field from Pearl (as he bore it) to Topaz.”
“The Field is Ruby, on a Bend Topaz, three Martlets Diamond. The Armes of the most Noble and Puissant Lord, Edward Brabazon, Earl of Meath, and Baron of Atherdee in the Kingdom of Ireland. His Lordship's Atchievements are Quarterly of sixteen Coats. 1. Brabazon, as above. 2. Diamond, on a Chevron between three Pickaxes Pearl, as many Mullets Ruby, by the Name of Mosley. 3. Saphire, ten Bezants, 4, 3, 2, 1, by the Bisset. 4. Pearl, on a Bend Diamond, nine Annulets conjoined in three Links Topaz.”
- The size of type between diamond and agate, standardized as 5-point.
- A jewel or gem.
“There is gold, and multitude of pearles: but a precious vessel the lips of knowledge.”
verb
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English perle, from Old French perle of uncertain etymology. Probably via unattested Medieval Latin *pernula, from Latin perna (“haunch; a marine bivalve shaped like a leg of lamb”) but also derived from Medieval Latin perla, from Latin perula (“little bag”). Its typographic use follows the name given by Jean Jannon to the type used in his miniature editions of Vergil, Horace, & the New Testament in the 1620s, which were the smallest printed works to his time. Its surfing use derives from the supposed resemblance to pearl diving.
- To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl.
“Syed Omar began to walk to the airport. Sweat pearled his tough brown skin, his fat bounced in rhythm.”
- To cause to resemble pearls in shape; to make into small round grains.
“to pearl barley”
- To cause to resemble pearls in lustre or iridescence.
“A Teaching Company Scheme developing new technology for pearling light bulbs was established in October […]”
- To resemble pearl or pearls.
- To bead; to form droplets.
“I'm left here with the memory of all their shining words, like drops of water pearling on the window-pane”
“Blood pearled on the blade, its aroma filling the air.”
- To hunt for pearls
“to go pearling”
- To sink the nose of one's surfboard into the water, often on takeoff.
“Used a pointed tip today and learned why I kept pearling with my round tipped board. Round noses like to dig into the water, causing frustrating wipeouts.”
- Of the nose of the surfboard: to sink in this manner.
“He couldn't even turn the board or raise the nose. Consequently, the board pearled, nose-dived into the water, throwing Lee off almost like being thrown from a horse. But he persisted.”
- Of aquatic plants: to produce visible bubbles on the stems and leaves during photosynthesis, usually in a simulated environment like an aquarium.
- To use an ender pearl to teleport by throwing it.