Where does “pearl” come from?
Pearl comes from Middle English perle, from Old French perle, of uncertain ultimate origin.
pearl (English): A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having...
Definitions
- A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having...
Ancestry of “pearl”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | perle | A pearl; Any round object, especially when shiny;... |
| 2 | Old French | perle | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | perla | — |
| 4 | Latin | perna | A haunch or ham together with the leg, gammon; A... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | persnā | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tpḗrsneh₂ | heel, upper thigh |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sperH- | to kick |