Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pearlish” come from?

pearlish (English) comes from English Pearl, from Middle English perle, from Old French perle, from Medieval Latin perla, from Latin perna, from Proto-Italic persnā, from Proto-Indo-European tpḗrsneh₂, from Proto-Indo-European sperH- — to kick.

pearlish (English): Like a pearl; pearly

Definitions

  1. Like a pearl; pearly

Ancestry of “pearlish”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPearl—
2Middle EnglishperleA pearl; Any round object, especially when shiny;...
3Old Frenchperle—
4Medieval Latinperla—
5LatinpernaA haunch or ham together with the leg, gammon; A...
6Proto-Italicpersnā—
7Proto-Indo-Europeantpḗrsneh₂heel, upper thigh
8Proto-Indo-EuropeansperH-to kick
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sperH- →