Early 16th century. From mother + pearl, after Italian madreperla pearl oyster, mother-of-pearl from madre + perla. Compare Middle French, French mère perle pearl oyster, Portuguese madrepérola pearl oyster, mother-of-pearl, Spanish madreperla pearl oyster, mother-of-pearl, and also early modern Dutch perlenmoeder, parlemoer (Dutch parelmoer) pearl oyster (arch.), mother-of-pearl, Middle Low German parlemōder, early modern German perilmuoter, perlīnmuoter (German Perlmutter, Perlmutt) mother-of-pearl, pearl oyster, Old Swedish pärlomodhir (Swedish pärlemor, pärlemo pearl oyster (obsolete), mother-of-pearl).