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mother-of-pearl definition

mother-of-pearl (-əv pʉrl′)

noun

the hard, pearly internal layer of certain marine shells, as of the pearl oyster or abalone, which is used in the arts, in making pearl buttons, etc.

Etymology: transl. of ML mater perlarum: orig. applied to the marine animal, later to the shell

adjective

of the mother-of-pearl

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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