The Collaborative International Dictionary
Marrow \Mar"row\, n. [OE. marou, mary, maruh, AS. mearg, mearh; akin to OS. marg, D. merg, G. Mark, OHG. marg, marag, Icel. mergr, Sw. merg, Dan. marv, Skr. majjan; cf. Skr. majj to sink, L. mergere. [root]274 Cf. Merge.]
(Anat.) The tissue which fills the cavities of most bones; the medulla. In the larger cavities it is commonly very fatty, but in the smaller cavities it is much less fatty, and red or reddish in color.
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The essence; the best part.
It takes from our achievements . . . The pith and marrow of our attribute.
--Shak. -
[OE. maru, maro; -- perh. a different word; cf. Gael. maraon together.] One of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate. [Scot.]
Chopping and changing I can not commend, With thief or his marrow, for fear of ill end.
--Tusser.Marrow squash (Bot.), a name given to several varieties of squash, esp. to the Boston marrow, an ovoid fruit, pointed at both ends, and with reddish yellow flesh, and to the vegetable marrow, a variety of an ovoid form, and having a soft texture and fine grain resembling marrow.
Spinal marrow. (Anat.) See Spinal cord, under Spinal.
WordNet
n. any of various squash plants grown for their elongated fruit with smooth dark green skin and whitish flesh [syn: marrow, vegetable marrow]