pearly
pearly Lexical Profile
pearly Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Resembling a pearl in luster, smoothness, or soft iridescent whiteness.
"The morning sun cast a soft, pearly glow across the calm surface of the bay."
Containing, yielding, or adorned with pearls or mother-of-pearl.
"The antique jewelry box featured an intricate pearly inlay along its hinged lid."
• noun
A person's tooth, especially when white and gleaming (usually used in the plural).
"The actor flashed his famous pearlies at the cameras as he walked down the red carpet."
British A London Cockney, originally a street trader or costermonger, who wears traditional dark clothes densely sewn with mother-of-pearl buttons for charitable events.
"During the annual harvest festival in East London, a group of pearlies gathered outside the church to collect donations."
• Rhymes for pearly
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in late Middle English from the noun 'pearl' (from Old French 'perle', probably from Vulgar Latin 'pernula', a diminutive of 'perna' meaning a sea mussel) plus the adjectival suffix '-y'.