The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
(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.
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Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious.
I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl.
--Shak.And those pearls of dew she wears.
--Milton. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.
(Zo["o]l.) A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
(Zo["o]l.) A light-colored tern.
(Zo["o]l.) One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.
A whitish speck or film on the eye. [Obs.]
--Milton.A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether.
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(Print.) A size of type, between agate and diamond. [1913 Webster] [hand] This line is printed in the type called pearl. 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.
Basic bismuth nitrate, or bismuth subchloride; -- used chiefly as a cosmetic.
A variety of white lead blued with indigo or Berlin blue.
Wiktionary
n. 1 A person who dives for pearls. 2 (context slang English) A dishwasher (person).
WordNet
n. a diver who searches for molluscs containing pearls [syn: pearler]
Wikipedia
Pearl Diver (1944–1971) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from 1946 and 1948 he ran thirteen times and won four races. His most notable achievement came in 1947, when he became the first French-trained horse to win the Epsom Derby since Durbar in 1914.
Pearl Diver or Pearl Divers may refer to:
Usage examples of "pearl diver".
There was one stretch where you could dive down, holding your breath like a Polynesian pearl diver, and pick them off the river bottom.
The label copy told the gruesome story of the hapless pearl diver.
He could readily stay under water twice as long as a South Sea pearl diver, and such men have been known to remain under several minutes.
He had been a gymnast at the University of Colorado and had terrific shoulders with the deltoid muscles bulging out in high relief, a thick strong neck, an absolutely lean and perfectly formed chest, like a South Sea pearl diver's—.
And Doc Savage, thanks to years of practice, could hold his breath fully twice as long as the most expert pearl diver.
I got him a job, pearl diver and handyman in a small gourmet restaurant, with a side arrangement for pay-me's to the chef for every Valhalla dish Joe learned to cook correctly.