Pearl

Pearl
Pearl Pearl, n. [OE. perle, F. perle, LL. perla, perula, probably fr. (assumed) L. pirulo, dim. of L. pirum a pear. See {Pear}, and cf. {Purl} to mantle.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) 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. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious. [1913 Webster]

I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

And those pearls of dew she wears. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl. [1913 Webster]

4. (Zo["o]l.) A fish allied to the turbot; the brill. [1913 Webster]

5. (Zo["o]l.) A light-colored tern. [1913 Webster]

6. (Zo["o]l.) One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler. [1913 Webster]

7. A whitish speck or film on the eye. [Obs.] --Milton. [1913 Webster]

8. A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether. [1913 Webster]

9. (Print.) A size of type, between agate and diamond. [1913 Webster] [hand] This line is printed in the type called pearl. [1913 Webster]

{Ground pearl}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Ground}.

{Pearl barley}, kernels of barley, ground so as to form small, round grains.

{Pearl diver}, one who dives for pearl oysters.

{Pearl edge}, an edge of small loops on the side of some kinds of ribbon; also, a narrow kind of thread edging to be sewed on lace.

{Pearl eye}, cataract. [R.]

{Pearl gray}, a very pale and delicate blue-gray color.

{Pearl millet}, Egyptian millet ({Penicillaria spicata}).

{Pearl moss}. See {Carrageen}.

{Pearl moth} (Zo["o]l.), any moth of the genus {Margaritia}; -- so called on account of its pearly color.

{Pearl oyster} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of large tropical marine bivalve mollusks of the genus {Meleagrina}, or {Margaritifera}, found in the East Indies (especially at Ceylon), in the Persian Gulf, on the coast of Australia, and on the Pacific coast of America. Called also {pearl shell}, and {pearl mussel}.

{Pearl powder}. See {Pearl white}, below.

{Pearl sago}, sago in the form of small pearly grains.

{Pearl sinter} (Min.), fiorite.

{Pearl spar} (Min.), a crystallized variety of dolomite, having a pearly luster.

{Pearl white}. (a) Basic bismuth nitrate, or bismuth subchloride; -- used chiefly as a cosmetic. (b) A variety of white lead blued with indigo or Berlin blue. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Pearl — (engl. für „Perle“) bezeichnet: Pearl (Pferdefarbe), ein Gen, das die Fellfarbe von Pferden aufhellt Pearl (Tanz), einen Solo Tanzstil Pearl (Gedicht), ein mittelenglisches Gedicht Pearl (Band), eine US amerikanische Rockband Pearl (Album), das… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pearl —   [Abk. für Process and Experiment Automatisation Realtime Language, dt. »Echtzeitsprache für die Automatisierung von Prozessen und Experimenten«], eine höhere Programmiersprache zur weitgehend systemunabhängigen Programmierung von Multitasking… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • pearl — pearl1 [pʉrl] n. [ME perle < MFr < VL * perla, *perula, altered (? after L sphaerula,SPHERULE) < L perna, a sea mussel, lit., a ham: from the shape of its peduncle] 1. a smooth, hard, usually white or bluish gray body of varied but… …   English World dictionary

  • Pearl — Альбом Дженис Джоплин Дата выпуска 1 февраля 1971 года Записан 5 сентября – …   Википедия

  • pearl|y — «PUR lee», adjective, pearl|i|er, pearl|i|est, noun, plural lies. –adj. 1. like a pearl; having the color or luster of pearls: »pearly teeth …   Useful english dictionary

  • pearl — [ pɜrl ] noun * 1. ) count a small round jewel that is white and shiny and that grows inside the shell of an OYSTER: a string of pearls a pearl necklace a ) an artificial jewel like this 2. ) uncount a hard substance that is inside some shells… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Pearl — Pearl, IL U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 187 Housing Units (2000): 96 Land area (2000): 1.506776 sq. miles (3.902531 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.086843 sq. miles (0.224922 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.593619 sq. miles (4.127453 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • pearl — (n.) mid 13c., from O.Fr. perle (13c.), M.L. perla (mid 13c.), of unknown origin. Perhaps from V.L. *pernula, dim. of L. perna in Sicily, pearl, earlier sea mussel, lit. ham, so called for the shape of the mollusk shells. Another theory connects… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pearl — [pə:l US pə:rl] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(jewel)¦ 2¦(hard substance)¦ 3 pearls of wisdom 4 cast/throw pearls before swine 5¦(liquid)¦ 6¦(excellent thing/person)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: perle, from Vulgar Latin pernula, from Latin… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Pearl — Pearl, a. Of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother of pearl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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