mabe pearl

noun

ˈmä-ˌbā- How to pronounce mabe pearl (audio)
: a cultured pearl essentially hemispherical in form

called also mabe

Word History

Etymology

mabe probably from Ryukyuan Japanese (Amami dialect), the pearl oyster Pteria penguin

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mabe pearl was in 1951

Dictionary Entries Near mabe pearl

Maba

mabe pearl

mabi

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Cite this Entry

“Mabe pearl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mabe%20pearl. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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