pearl
.
Searchable Lemmata: perle (AF), perla (L), perl (ME), perl (W), perle (OScots), pearl (MdE).
Alternate Forms: peerles, perel, pereles, pereil, peril, periol, perles, perlis, perlous, pewle, pirlis.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1a(n.)
Jewellery;
smooth round bead formed within the shells of certain molluscs, especially the oyster (Ostrea); used in jewellery and to ornament textiles. Also, a non-specified bead.
DMLBS perla:
Cl 179,
Cl 69,
AcWardr TR Bk 203 p. 321,
GOSC. Edith 79 [NOTE: as distinct from margarita];
IMisc 87/25 [NOTE: pearl-like artefact or bead].1. [349] ... in quodam cluto lineo diverse petre de la Quarenteyne ... [350] ... colerettus munitus auro, petris, et perlis ... unum capellum auri de diversa petraria et perlis ... [352] ... tres cape chori veteres broudate, linate de panno de aristo ...
Accounts.
[DMLBS Ac. Wardr. (p. 349-352) 1300]
2. [348] ... Une Nouche dor ove iij greyns des Esmeraudes et noef perles ... j plate dargent pur espices ove le pee ove escuchouns des divers armes, et ij autres plates playnes dargent ... [349] ... iiij peire de alettes desarmes le Counte de Hereford. ... j quintepoint de Hoylaund.
Wills.
[MED Will de Bohun in Archaeol.J.2 (348-349) 1322]
3. [B.3533] ... In kynges habit wente hire sones two ... [B. 3554] ... Biforn his triumphe walketh she With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge ... [B.3558] ... Of rubies, saphires, and of perles [vrr. peerles, Pereles] white Were alle hise clothes brouded vp and doun ... [B.3562] ... Cenobie ... that helmed was in starke stoures And wan by force townes strong and toures, Shal on hire heed now were a vitremyte [vrr. vitrymyte, vytrymyt, vitrmite, vitrymete, vitrenyte, vitrinite, vetremyte, fitermyte, witermite, wyntermyte, wytrymyte, wetremyte, vitryte]; And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures Shal bere a distaf hire cost for to quyte
Poetic.
[MED Chaucer CT.Mk. ((Manly-Rickert) B.3533-62) circa 1375]
Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1b(n.)
Raw Material;
specified as mother-of-pearl (mass noun)(circa 1313)
Sex: N/A Use: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, Old French and L.
WF:
Etym Cog:
References:
Art and Illustration:
Pearls were used to decorate textiles from the Anglo-Saxon period onwards. In the high Middle Ages both ecclesiastical vestments and the dress of seculars of the highest rank mioght be encrusted with them.
