seed-pearl
(ˈsiːdpɜːl)
[f. seed n.]
A minute pearl having the appearance of a seed, usually drilled and fastened to some material to be worn as an ornament. a. collect. sing.
| 1553 Inv. Ch. Goods York, etc. (Surtees) 168 Garnished with..an edge of smale seede pearle sett round abowte the same. 1573–4 New Yrs. Gifts in Nichols Progr. Eliz. (1823) I. 380 Item, a fayre gyrdle of pomaunder and seede perle garnets and pomaunders. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia v. 198 Some seed Pearle they got. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 245 ¶2 Bracelets of braided Hair, Pomander, and Seed-Pearl. 1879 E. Arnold Lt. Asia iv. (1881) 105 A golden net, With tassels of seed-pearl and silken strings. |
b. pl.
| 1598 Florio, Perlette, little, small, seede pearles. 1619 tr. Mexia's Treas. Anc. & Mod. Times II. 976/2 Some [pearls] are found to be so little, that they can not bee drilled by any meanes; and therefore they call them Seede-pearles. 1799 G. Smith Laboratory I. 132 Take oriental seed-pearls; reduce them into a fine powder. 1877 Streeter Prec. Stones 235 According to their size they [Pearls] receive certain names;..small, Piece Pearls; smaller, Seed Pearls; smallest, Dust Pearls. |