pearl

Meaning

Noun

1. 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.
2. Something precious.
3. A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for e.g. medicinal application.
4. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.
5. A whitish speck or film on the eye.
6. A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
7. A light-colored tern.
8. One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.
9. The size of type between diamond and agate, standardized as 5-point.
10. A fringe or border.
11. (obsolete) A jewel or gem.
12. A valuable little nugget of information; especially, an aphorism or tip that is operationally useful for decision-making.
13. (slang) The clitoris.
14. Short for pearl tapioca.
15. Argent, in blazoning by precious stones.

Verb

1. To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl.
2. To cause to resemble pearls in shape; to make into small round grains.
3. To cause to resemble pearls in lustre or iridescence.
4. To resemble pearl or pearls.
5. To hunt for pearls
6. To sink the nose of one's surfboard into the water, often on takeoff.
7. Of the nose of the surfboard: to sink in this manner.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɜːl/

Etymology

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.