pearl

pearl · noun, verb¹

1. Latin · derived fromperula“little bag”
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromperla
3. Latin · derived fromperna“haunch; a marine bivalve shaped like a leg of lamb”
4. Medieval Latin · derived from*pernula
5. Old French · derived fromperle
6. Middle English · inherited fromperle
7. English todaypearl

Inherited from Middle English perle, from Old French perle of uncertain etymology. Probably via unattested Medieval Latin *pernula, from Latin perna (“haunch; a marine bivalve shaped like a leg of lamb”) but also derived from Medieval Latin perla, from Latin perula (“little bag”). Its typographic use follows the name given by Jean Jannon to the type used in his miniature editions of Vergil, Horace & the New Testament in the 1620s, which were the smallest printed works to his time. Its surfing use derives from the supposed resemblance to pearl diving.

Pearl · proper noun²

1. Hawaiian · calque ofmomi“pearl”
2. Hawaiian · derived fromWai Momi“pearl water”
3. Chinese · calque of珠“pearl”
4. Chinese · derived from珠江“Pearl River”
5. English todayPearl

From pearl. * (river in China): From Chinese 珠江 (Zhūjiāng, Zyu1 Gong1, “Pearl River”); calque of Chinese 珠 (zhū, zyu1, “pearl”). * (haven in Hawaii): From Hawaiian Wai Momi (“pearl water”); calque of Hawaiian momi (“pearl”).

Words from the same roots