~ 1
■ noun
1》 a hard, lustrous spherical mass, typically white or bluish-grey, formed within the shell of an oyster or other bivalve mollusc and highly prized as a gem.
↘an artificial imitation of a ~.
↘a very pale bluish-grey or white colour.
2》 a highly valued person or thing: ~s of wisdom.
■ verb
1》 literary form ~-like drops.
2》 [usu. as noun ~ing ] dive or fish for ~ oysters.
Phrases
cast ~s before swine offer valuable things to people who do not appreciate them. [with biblical allusion to Matt. 7:6.]
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. perle , perh. based on L. perna 'leg', extended to denote a leg-of-mutton-shaped bivalve.
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~ 2
■ noun Brit. another term for picot .
Origin
var. of purl 1 .