mother-of-pearl

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English[edit]

An iridescence layer of mother-of-pearl covering the inner side of the Nautilus shell.

Etymology[edit]

Calque of Latin māter perlārum, with the first element perhaps connected in popular imagination with obsolete mother (“dregs”).[1] Possibly referring to the fact that the nacre-lined shells are the belly (“mother”) in which pearls are produced.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˌmʌðəɹ əv ˈpɜː(ɹ)l/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun[edit]

mother-of-pearl (countable and uncountable, plural mother-of-pearls)

  1. The hard pearly inner layer of certain mollusk shells; nacre.
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Another London Life”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 170:
      Ah, those Indian warehouses made the morning pass in a charming manner! many a soft confession was whispered over a huge china jar; many a heart has succumbed to a suite of mother-of-pearl card-box and counters; and as to the shawls, why, the whole feminine world has long ago acknowledged them to be irresistible.
  2. A butterfly of the genus Salamis.

Alternative forms[edit]

Synonyms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Adjective[edit]

mother-of-pearl (not comparable)

  1. Made from or looking like mother-of-pearl; iridescent or pearly.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “mother-of-pearl”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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