Middle English Dictionary Entry

pē̆rl(e n.(2)
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Entry Info

Forms pē̆rl(e n.(2) Also pearl, perel, peril, pereil, periol; pl. perles, etc. & perlous, pirlis.
Etymology OF perle & ML perla, peerilla, perula. ?Also cp. ML pirula, perula 'tip of the nose', apparently confused with perula 'pearl'.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A pearl; (b) margerie ~, a pearl; ~ of oriente, orient ~, ~ orient, ~ orientale, a pearl from the Orient; also, a pearl of exceptional brilliance; ~ ston, ~ of pris; (c) coll. pearls; ?mother of pearl; ~ orient; (d) countrefet perles, small silver balls; (e) in comparisons; lik a ~ ston, as ~ argentine, brighter than..perles, etc.; (f) fig. a dew-drop; a drop of mucus; (g) alch. the white stone.
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2.
(a) Something precious or valuable; a fine, virtuous, or highly esteemed person; ?also, something of little value [quot.: Wars Alex.]; precious as ~, as valuable as a pearl, very valuable; (b) with metaphorical signification; also, as an epithet for Christ or the Virgin Mary; (c) in proverbs.
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3.
Anat. & med. (a) A pearl used medicinally; margerie ~; (b) the pupil of the eye; also fig.; (c) a disease of the eye causing a film, spot, or tumor on the eyeball; ?a cataract; ~ of the strenges, a tumor or other growth on the muscles or nerves of the eye; ~ in (of) the eie.
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4.
"The almury (sliding bead) on the .. plumb-line" [Tavormina] of a surveyor's quadrant.
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5.
As a surname.
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Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pearl.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pearl in the eye.

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