pearlyadj.adv.n.
/ˈpəːli/, U.S. /ˈpərli/ A. adj.
1. Physically resembling a pearl.
a. Resembling a pearl in shape, as dewdrops, tears, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > reflection > [adjective] > lustrous or shining with reflected light > of or like precious stones, metals, or fabrics > with a pearly lustre > and shape
pearlya1450
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [adjective] > spherical or globular > very small sphere or pellet > and lustrous
pearlya1450
a1450 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1911) 127 325 (MED) As ofte as..perly dropis in may were by the morow..So ofte, and ofter, I sigh for your sake.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Testament (Harl. 218) 288 in Minor Poems (1911) i. 340 Aurora, her licour distyllyng, Sent on herbes the perely [v.r. peerly] dropis shene Of siluer dewes.
a1500 R. Henryson Ressoning betuix Aige & Yowth 3 in Poems (1981) 170 Perly droppis of the balmy schouris.
1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 184 The perly droppis schake in silvir schouris.
1646 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple 48 The treasure of thy pearly deaw.
1706 N. Rowe Ulysses ii. i When ev'ry spiry Grass, and painted Flow'r, Is hung with pearly Drops of Heav'nly Rain.
1801 S. Owenson Poems sig. d7v Brush from od'rous lawn, The pearly tears of infant dawn.
1879 J. Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (ed. 6) I. xi. 342 The little pearly globe which we call a dew-drop.
1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke (new ed.) 94 I've sent the leery bloke that bore me name Clean to the pack wivout one pearly tear.
1993 W. Self My Idea of Fun (BNC) 142 Pearly tears seeded themselves in the corners of her eyes.
b. Resembling a pearl in lustre, paleness, colour, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > reflection > [adjective] > lustrous or shining with reflected light > of or like precious stones, metals, or fabrics > with a pearly lustre
pearly1596
pearled1699
perlaceous1777
margaritaceous1822
the world > matter > colour > named colours > white or whiteness > [adjective] > pure white > as pearl
pearly1596
the world > matter > colour > named colours > grey or greyness > [adjective] > pearl grey
pearl-coloured1604
pearl shell1614
pearl1688
pearled1699
pearly?1790
pearl-hued1843
pearlish1885
1596 M. Drayton Mortimeriados sig. P Cleere Trent vpon the pearly sand doth slide.
1651 Bp. J. Taylor XXVIII Serm. xi. 136 Casting its pearly seeds for the young to breed, it [sc. the silk-worm] leaveth its silk for man.
1718 T. Purney Chevalier de St. George 4 To his chariot leapt He bold, Compos'd of pearly Myrrh and odrous Gold.
?1790 J. Imison Curious & Misc. Articles (new ed.) 61 in School of Arts (ed. 2) Beneath the eyes, the pleasing pearly tints are to be preserved, composed of verditer and white.
1832 H. Martineau For Each & All iv. 53 The dressing room lamp shed a pearly light through the room.
1873 Daily Tel. 26 May 4/1 The pearliest complexions did not shrink from exposure to the morning air.
1911 F. H. Burnett Secret Garden xv. 158 She clasped her hands for pure joy and looked up in the sky and it was so blue and pink and pearly and white and flooded with springtime light.
1992 Pract. Fishkeeping (BNC) Aug. 76 The basic colouration is greyish-blue to green , with a pearly iridescence.
2. Made of pearls or mother-of-pearl; set or adorned with pearls or mother-of-pearl.See also pearly gates n., pearly king n., pearly queen n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > pearl > [adjective] > made of or furnished with
pearleda1393
impearled1597
pearly1605
baccated1731
bepearled1863
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 412 Good Princes..Who Idol-not their pearlie Scepters glory.
1621 Edinb. Test. LI. f. 32, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Perly Ane dosone of peirlie preines price thairof xviij s.
1746 W. Collins Odes 25 Deck'd with pearly Pride.
1792 M. Deverell Mary, Queen of Scots sig. Q Heav'n came in view; The pearly portals open'd wide.
1818 J. Keats Endymion ii. 59 The pearly cup Meander gave me.
1818 J. Keats Endymion iii. 115 Beside this old man lay a pearly wand.
1992 J. Torrington Swing Hammer Swing! ii. 8 Wouldn't it be a pity if..St. Pete slammed the pearly portal in Eddie's face.
3. Having or producing pearls; characterized by mother-of-pearl; nacreous.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > pearl > [adjective] > containing, yielding, or abounding in
pearled1601
pearly1619
margaritiferous1656
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > pearl > [adjective] > mother-of-pearl
pearly1619
nacreous1851
1619 T. Milles tr. P. Mexia et al. Αρχαιο-πλουτος 977/2 The flesh..or body of the Pearly Oyster.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 407 Through Groves Of Coral stray..Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend Moist nutriment. View more context for this quotation
1714 J. Gay Epist. to Lady 24 Here I..call'd the Nereids from their pearly cells.
1716 J. Gay Trivia iii. 66 The Man..that on the rocky Shore First broke the oozy Oyster's pearly Coat.
a1785 R. Glover Athenaid (1787) I. ii. 51 Artificial beds of pearly conchs Along the sea-beat margin cull'd by nymphs.
1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. i, in Lamia & Other Poems 165 Like to a diver in the pearly seas.
1869 G. A. Simcox Poems & Romances 63 Ofttimes adventurous seekers sound In chambers lying deep below, to see The pearly cells and storied jewellery, Which in the deeps where none can breathe abound.
1999 Irish Times (Nexis) 4 Oct. 11 Characterised by a single, whorled pearly shell, and a muscle or foot which can be sliced and broiled as ‘abalone steak’.
4.
a. poetic. Exceedingly precious; of supreme (spiritual) purity or worth. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective]
dearc888
dearworthc888
worthlyeOE
oughtsOE
worthfulOE
aughtOE
richa1225
gildenc1225
of pricea1325
worthya1325
of (‥) valourc1330
prow1340
dearworthyc1374
of value1395
pricefula1400
presc1400
singularc1400
goldena1425
well-foundc1475
valiant1481
prized1487
prowousa1500
valuable1567
prizable1569
valorous1592
suit-worth1594
bully1600
estimable1600
treasurable1607
treasurous?1611
treasured1675
pearly1770
at a premium1828
keep-worthy1830
good value1842
society > morality > virtue > purity > [adjective] > very pure
as pure (also white) as (the) driven snow1763
pearly1770
1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. 61 You are too much, too pearly, too precious a treasure.
1893 J. Pulsford Loyalty to Christ II. 148 We begin to long..that we may be pearly and Christ-like throughout.
b. British colloquial. More generally: fine, excellent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
1966 Times 17 Feb. 4/3 In the end the more cultured pearly football of this talented, sophisticated Milan side survived the non-stop mobility of their younger foe.
1971 Guardian 5 June 8/4 (heading) Pearly moments still to come.
1993 Time Out 31 Mar. 5/1 The Wigmore's such a pearly venue we're content to go along with the décor and feel of the place.
5. Of sound, music, etc.; having or producing a smooth, round, sweet tone; clear, pure.
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. 4345/2 Pearly, in the technique of the pianoforte, noting a touch that produces a clear, round, sweet tone, or noting a tone thus characterized.
1965 Times 5 June 5/3 Miss Lear's cool, pearly soprano and excellent German are heard to admiration.
1991 Gramophone Jan. 1419/1 ‘La campanella’ again reveals pearly clarity.
2002 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 14 June e.5 Mr. Zenon has a bright, pearly sound; to place it among his significant contemporaries, on his terrific new album.
poetic. With respect to pearls. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > white or whiteness > [adverb] > as pearl
pearly1818
1818 J. Keats Endymion iii. 141 Here is a shell; 'tis pearly blank to me.
C. n.
1. British.
a. In plural. Clothes decorated with pearl buttons, such as are worn (now only ceremonially) by pearly kings and queens. Also: pearl buttons used to decorate these clothes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > other
disguise1340
disguisingc1386
shiftc1570
French cut1606
knaverya1616
small clothes1625
small storesa1643
nugging-dress1699
kilting1721
fancy dress1770
under-habit1772
man-millinery1790
sheen1802
costume1818
ingubu1833
bedizenment1837
tat1839
extravaganza1860
rational dress1873
rubber1876
pearly1890
new look1920
collection1921
Daks1933
smart casual1943
separates1945
trapeze1958
Carnaby Street1965
haute boutique1966
kinderwhore1994
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > fastenings > button > types of
hair-button1593
frog1635
bar-button1685
frost button1686
sleeve-button1686
berry-button1702
stud1715
pearl button1717
breast button1742
bell-button1775
shell button1789
red button1797
olivet1819
bullet-buttons1823
basket-button1836
all-over1838
top1852
olive1890
pearly1890
nail head1892
1890 Sporting Times 12 July 1/3 Oh! why are your pearlies so bright, Bleary Bill?
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 142 He'd..a blue coat and weskit with the artfullest little pearlies you ever see.
1935 P. Cohen-Portheim Spirit of London viii. 99 There are still costermongers in their ‘pearlies’ (one of the prettiest dresses to be found anywhere).
1992 M. J. Staples Pearly Queen (BNC) 62 ‘Pleasure,’ said Joe, grinning, gleaming and sparkling in his pearlies.
b. A London Cockney street trader; a pearly king or queen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [noun] > one who wears clothing with pearl buttons
pearly king1902
pearly1917
society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of provisions > seller of fruit
fruiterer1408
apple seller1440
fruitera1483
costard-jagger?1518
costermonger?1518
apple-monger1540
pippin-monger1607
oporopolist1671
fructster1688
orange merchant1693
coster1851
pearly king1902
pearly1917
1917 Times 11 July 9/6 One of the novelties of the afternoon was the Limehouse Lounge with donahs and pearlies, and the atmosphere of Petticoat-lane true to life.
1928 Daily Express 27 June 13/3 It is given to few men to be popular alike with princes and ‘pearlies’.
1992 M. J. Staples Pearly Queen (BNC) 61 ‘Are you a pearly?’ he asked.
2. slang. In plural. Short for pearly whites n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > tooth or teeth > [noun]
teetha900
munpinsc1475
gams1508
peg1598
tusk1632
masticator1681
headrail1767
ivory1783
tombstone1809
dominos1828
dental1837
toothy-peg1840
fang1841
cruncher1859
chomper1884
teg1886
Hampstead Heath1887
pearly1914
gnasher1919
tat1919
pearly whites1935
chopper1937
1914 W. L. George Making of Englishman i. iv. 71 Twirl your sunshade, twirl away, tooraloo, and never you mind the words so long as you've the limelight on your pearlies.
1973 T. Pynchon Gravity's Rainbow i. 78 Secretaries..shiver with the winter cold being inhaled through the madhouse's many crevices, their typewriter keys chattery as their pearlies.
2002 Cheshire Life Aug. 196 Everyone should be looking after their pearlies with regular visits to the dentist to keep a check on the health of their teeth and gums.
3. Music slang (chiefly British). In plural with the. An uncontrollable trembling of the bowing hand sometimes experienced by string players during a performance, usually as a result of nervousness.See etymological note above.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing stringed instrument > [noun] > bowing > nervous shaking
pearly1960
1960 M. Tillis Chords & Discords vi. 85 String players get the ‘pearlies’—the bow arm is racked with nerves and is out of control, and in long notes a series of jagged splutters are produced instead of a legato.
1983 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 12 Nov. 1438/1 Tremor—that terrifying disorder (known to professional musicians as The Pearlies) when the bowing arm seems to have a life of its own, its shaking quite out of the control of the patient's conscious mind.
1995 Independent (Nexis) 12 Aug. 4 Embouchure droop, the ‘pearlies’, conductor's itch and Paganini's kiss—just some of the complaints endured by over-worked British classical musicians.
Compounds
C1.
a. † pearly-purled adj. Obsolete
pearly-coated adj.
ΚΠ
1776 E. M. da Costa Elements Conchol. 30 A pearly-coated Shell.
1990 Connecticut Environment July 19/2 The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) is a glossy blue-black shell that has a pearly-coated violet interior.
pearly-coloured adj.
ΚΠ
1778 J. Abercrombie Universal Gardener & Botanist at Celosia Margaritacca The main stalk and every branch terminated by small, oblong, erect, pearly-coloured heads, forming spikes.
1936 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 23 192/2 The transfer of a small loopful of this organism to bean agar results..in a small, glistening, somewhat semi-globular pearly-colored mass.
2001 Independent on Sunday (Nexis) 14 Jan. 29 Farmed cod tends to be whiter than the pearly-coloured wild variety.
pearly-lustrous adj.
ΚΠ
1883 R. Haldane Workshop Receipts 2nd Ser. 361/1 A pearly-lustrous material.
1949 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 36 509/2 Heads large, weakly lanate, exterior involucral bracts pearly-lustrous and up to 4 mm. long.
ΚΠ
1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 92 By night, the Moon denies to fading Flowrs Her silver sweat, and pearly-purled showrs.
pearly-teethed adj.
ΚΠ
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 44 No fading belle was better versed in cosmetic secrets... Fresh,..unwrinkled, pearly-teethed.
1882 P. H. Hayne Poems 260/2 Broad-breasted, pearly-teethed, thy pure breath strayed [etc.].
2002 San Diego Union-Tribune (Nexis) 3 Mar. (Bks. section) 7 These raven-haired, pearly-teethed sisters have devoted their lives to forgetting.
b. In colour names.
pearly-blue n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1754 E. Owen Observ. on Earths, Rocks, Stones & Minerals Some Miles About Bristol 42 I have several of different sizes and degrees of purity, some white, and others with a slight, but very beautiful cast of pearly blue.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 193 The little bell-flowers, pearly blue.
2003 Sunday Tel. Mag. (Sydney) (Nexis) 5 Oct. 14 She perched on the bed and watched Ena cover her eyelids with pearly blue eyeshadow.
pearly-grey n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1757 J. Hill Eden 389/2 The Ground Colour of the Flower [sc. painted amethystine tulip] is a pearly grey, with a Tinge of faint crimson diffus'd all over it.
1840 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 311/1 The substantial richness of Correggio, with his pearly grays seen under a body of transparent colouring.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxix A costume of pearly grey.
1907 ‘N. Blanchan’ Birds Every Child should Know xvii. 261 Big, pearly-gray birds..with black-crowned heads..the night herons so harmonise with the twilight as to seem a part of it.
2003 Time Out (Nexis) 26 Nov. 48 The creamy black sky appears denser than the pearly grey sea.
pearly pink n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1854 Putnam's Monthly Mag. July 27/1 I hardly knew whether I was still in the land of realities, while the pearly pink atmosphere overhung the dense throng.
1873 H. H. Jackson Poems 218 Dead lily-bells lie low, and in their place A rounded disk of pearly pink is seen.
1991 F. Adcock Time Zones (BNC) 14 A cloud of thunderflies has chosen to swarm on the pearly-pink just-warm globe of a smoke-detector.
2004 Evening Gaz. (Nexis) 16 Mar. 18 Simple satins, beautiful beading, floral and polka dot prints available in shades of classic ivory, pearly pinks and lavender.
pearly-white n. and adj.
ΚΠ
a1739 in London Mag., & Monthly Chronologer (1739) 8 249/2 The fiery granate, and the chrysolite, In some are temper'd by a pearly white.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. xi. 199 The horizon bounded by a propitious sky, azure, marbled with pearly white.
1859 R. B. Stratton Captivity of Oatman Girls (ed. 3) iv. 170 To see..the sweat coursing down freely from her pearly-white forehead.
1990 J. Roberts Her Living Image (BNC) 77 She held up her needles, speared through the left front of a pearly-white matinée jacket.
C2.
pearly everlasting n. a white-tomentose plant, Anaphalis margaritacea (family Asteraceae ( Compositae)), with flowers enclosed by scarious pearly-white involucral bracts, which is native to North America and northern Asia and grown in gardens as an ‘everlasting’; (in wider sense) any plant of the genus Anaphalis.
ΚΠ
1798 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening (ed. 2) xix. xi. 342 Eternal flower, pearly, or white everlasting, r. June.
1872 1st Rep. Vermont State Board Agric. 1871–2 281 Pearly everlasting, a perennial, occupies the knolls of cool, hill pastures.
1993 Amer. Forests (Nexis) 99 42 We identified ginseng and goose-looted maple, and collected butternuts. I found pearly everlasting, painted trillium, and evening primrose.
pearly gates n. [with allusion to Revelation 21:21] (with plural agreement) the gates of heaven; also used allusively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > heaven > [noun] > entrance to
the gate(s of heavenc1000
heaven gatec1225
pearly gatesa1618
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) ii. iv. 521 In Iervsalem; With-in whose Pearly Gates and Iasper Walls..Shall enter nothing filthy or vnclean.
1709 I. Watts Hymns & Spiritual Songs (ed. 2) ii. 245 The want of Sight she [sc. faith] well supplies, She makes the Pearly Gates appear.
1828 B. Barton Robert Bruce & Spider in New Year's Eve 40 For thee a heavenly crown awaits, For thee are oped the pearly gates.
1927 H. Crane Let. 29 May (1965) 300 If I can avoid the pearly gates long enough I may do better.
1990 Viz Dec. (cartoon) I'm going to douse myself in petrol, readers! Self immolation should see me safely to the Pearly Gates!
pearly king n. British a London Cockney street trader wearing traditional ceremonial clothes covered with pearl buttons; cf. pearly queen n.in quot. 1883 the nature of the suit is unknown.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [noun] > one who wears clothing with pearl buttons
pearly king1902
pearly1917
society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of provisions > seller of fruit
fruiterer1408
apple seller1440
fruitera1483
costard-jagger?1518
costermonger?1518
apple-monger1540
pippin-monger1607
oporopolist1671
fructster1688
orange merchant1693
coster1851
pearly king1902
pearly1917
1883 Era 20 Jan. 24/4 The Pearly King, the handsomest and most costly suit of clothes ever seen, made by Moss,..Bethnal-green.]
1902 Strand Mag. Feb. 236/2 Mr. F. Croft, the Pearlie King of Somers Town. He has 4,900 buttons on his suit.
1942 W. Lewis Let. 27 Jan. (1963) 315 They go about talking to themselves—in the purest idiom of the Pearly King.
1994 BBC Holidays Oct. 65/3 This is the year's biggest gathering of London's Cockney royalty, in which some 100 pearly kings and queens..dust down their glorious mother-of-pearl outfits.
pearly nautilus n. = nautilus n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Cephalopoda > [noun] > order Tetrabranchiata > family Nautilidae > member of
sailer1668
sail-shell?1711
nautiloida1728
pearl snail1731
sailor1776
pearly nautilus1800
1776 E. M. da Costa Elements Conchol. 286 The Pearly Chambered Nautilus, or Sailor.]
1800 Naturalist's Pocket Mag. 5 at Great Nautilus Da Costa..calls it the Pearly-Chambered Nautilus; as well as the Indian Pearly Nautilus, or Sailor.
1871 H. A. Nicholson Man. Zool. (rev. ed.) li. 334 The structure of the shell in the Ammonitidæ is exactly that of the Pearly Nautilus.
1988 Nature 17 Nov. 274/1 The pearly nautilus..is evidently related to the fossil nautiloids and ammonoids.
pearly queen n. British a London Cockney woman street trader wearing traditional ceremonial clothes covered with pearl buttons; cf. pearly king n.
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1913 Times 24 June 6/1 A large class of costers' donkeys caused great amusement, and Lord Lonsdale took a ‘pearly Queen’ for a partner in an exhibition of step-dancing which was given.
1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage ii. 41 Most pearly kings and queens design and make their own costumes, the decoration being made up entirely of pearl buttons sewn on the fabric of the suit or dress.
1993 J. Trollope Rector's Wife (BNC) 100 She had landed three lines in a television commercial for an Irish stout, dressed as a pearly queen.
pearly whites n. slang a person's teeth; see sense C. 2.
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the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > tooth or teeth > [noun]
teetha900
munpinsc1475
gams1508
peg1598
tusk1632
masticator1681
headrail1767
ivory1783
tombstone1809
dominos1828
dental1837
toothy-peg1840
fang1841
cruncher1859
chomper1884
teg1886
Hampstead Heath1887
pearly1914
gnasher1919
tat1919
pearly whites1935
chopper1937
1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 86/2 Pearly whites, the teeth.
1980 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 24 Oct. 15/5 Coburn is defeated by his pearly-whites and taut features.
1987 L. Hodgkinson Smile Therapy vii. 114 Although crooked teeth may make some people nervous of smiling, there is more to looking happy than displaying a perfect row of pearly whites.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.adv.n.a1450