from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Oyster \Oys"ter\ (ois"t[~e]r), n. [OF. oistre, F. hu[^i]tre, L.
ostrea, ostreum, Gr. 'o`streon; prob. akin to 'ostre`on bone,
the oyster being so named from its shell. Cf. {Osseous},
{Ostracize}.]
1. (Zool.) Any marine bivalve mollusk of the genus Ostrea.
They are usually found adhering to rocks or other fixed
objects in shallow water along the seacoasts, or in
brackish water in the mouth of rivers. The common European
oyster ({Ostrea edulis}), and the American oyster ({Ostrea
Virginiana}), are the most important species.
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2. A name popularly given to the delicate morsel contained in
a small cavity of the bone on each side of the lower part
of the back of a fowl.
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{Fresh-water oyster} (Zool.), any species of the genus
{Etheria}, and allied genera, found in rivers of Africa
and South America. They are irregular in form, and attach
themselves to rocks like oysters, but they have a pearly
interior, and are allied to the fresh-water mussels.
{Oyster bed}, a breeding place for oysters; a place in a
tidal river or other water on or near the seashore, where
oysters are deposited to grow and fatten for market. See
1st {Scalp}, n.
{Oyster catcher} (Zool.), See {oystercatcher} in the
vocabulary.
{Oyster crab} (Zool.) a small crab ({Pinnotheres ostreum})
which lives as a commensal in the gill cavity of the
oyster.
{Oyster dredge}, a rake or small dragnet for bringing up
oysters from the bottom of the sea.
{Oyster fish}. (Zool.)
(a) The tautog.
(b) The toadfish.
{Oyster plant}. (Bot.)
(a) A plant of the genus {Tragopogon} ({Tragopogon
porrifolius}), the root of which, when cooked,
somewhat resembles the oyster in taste; salsify; --
called also {vegetable oyster}.
(b) A plant found on the seacoast of Northern Europe,
America and Asia ({Mertensia maritima}), the fresh
leaves of which have a strong flavor of oysters.
{Oyster plover}. (Zool.) Same as {oystercatcher}.
{Oyster shell} (Zool.), the shell of an oyster.
{Oyster wench}, {Oyster wife}, {Oyster women}, a women who
deals in oysters.
{Pearl oyster}. (Zool.) See under {Pearl}.
{Thorny oyster} (Zool.), any spiny marine shell of the genus
{Spondylus}.
[1913 Webster] oystercatcher
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pearl \Pearl\, n. [OE. perle, F. perle, LL. perla, perula,
probably fr. (assumed) L. pirulo, dim. of L. pirum a pear.
See {Pear}, and cf. {Purl} to mantle.]
1. (Zool.) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a
brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle,
or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve
mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river
mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually
due to a secretion of shelly substance around some
irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as
nacre, or mother-of-pearl.
Note: Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine
luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and at one time
compared in value with the precious stones. Since
development of cultured pearls, the relative value has
diminished somewhat, though the best pearls are still
expensive, and natural pearls even more so. Artificial
pearls may be made of various materials, including
material similar to that of natural pearls; these are
less expensive than natural or cultured pearls. See
{cultured pearl}, below.
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2. Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl;
something very precious.
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I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl.
--Shak.
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And those pearls of dew she wears. --Milton.
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3. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.
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4. (Zool.) A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
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5. (Zool.) A light-colored tern.
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6. (Zool.) One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur
on a deer's antler.
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7. A whitish speck or film on the eye. [Obs.] --Milton.
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8. A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some
liquid for medicinal application, as ether.
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9. (Print.) A size of type, between agate and diamond.
[1913 Webster] [hand] This line is printed in the type
called pearl.
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{Ground pearl}. (Zool.) See under {Ground}.
{Pearl barley}, kernels of barley, ground so as to form
small, round grains.
{Pearl diver}, one who dives for pearl oysters.
{Pearl edge}, an edge of small loops on the side of some
kinds of ribbon; also, a narrow kind of thread edging to
be sewed on lace.
{Pearl eye}, cataract. [R.]
{Pearl gray}, a very pale and delicate blue-gray color.
{Pearl millet}, Egyptian millet ({Penicillaria spicata}).
{Pearl moss}. See {Carrageen}.
{Pearl moth} (Zool.), any moth of the genus {Margaritia}; --
so called on account of its pearly color.
{Pearl oyster} (Zool.), any one of several species of large
tropical marine bivalve mollusks of the genus
{Meleagrina}, or {Margaritifera}, found in the East Indies
(especially at Ceylon), in the Persian Gulf, on the coast
of Australia, and on the Pacific coast of America. Called
also {pearl shell}, and {pearl mussel}.
{Pearl powder}. See {Pearl white}, below.
{Pearl sago}, sago in the form of small pearly grains.
{Pearl sinter} (Min.), fiorite.
{Pearl spar} (Min.), a crystallized variety of dolomite,
having a pearly luster.
{Pearl white}.
(a) Basic bismuth nitrate, or bismuth subchloride; -- used
chiefly as a cosmetic.
(b) A variety of white lead blued with indigo or Berlin
blue.
{cultured pearl}, a pearl grown by a pearl oyster into which
a round pellet has been placed, to serve as the seed for
more predictable growth of the pearl. The pellet is
usually made from mother-of-pearl, and additional layers
of nacre are deposited onto the seed by the oyster. Such
pearls, being more easily obtained than natural pearls
from wild oysters, are less expensive.
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