Old English · noun
meregrot
- Part of speech
- noun, neuter
- Declension
- strong a-stem
- IPA
- /ˈme.reˌɡrot/
- Syllables
- ˈme · re · ˌɡrot (3 syllables)
- Modern English
- pearl
Meaning
-
a pearl
Swylċe ēac þēos eorþe is berende missenlīcra fugela ⁊ sǣwihta ⁊ hēr bēoþ oft fanġene seolas ⁊ hronas and mereswȳn; ⁊ hēr bēoþ oft numene missenlīcra cynna weolcsċylle ⁊ muscule, ⁊ on þām oft ġemette þā betstan meregrotan ǣlces hīwes.
This land also bears various birds and sea creatures, and seals, porpoises, and dolphins are often caught here; and various kinds of mussels and shellfish are often taken, and in them the best pearls of every color are often found.
late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History
Declension
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | meregrot | meregrotu |
| Accusative | meregrot | meregrotu |
| Genitive | meregrotes | meregrota |
| Dative | meregrote | meregrotum |
All forms (6)
Etymology
Probably from Late Latin margarita, recast by folk etymology as though mere (“sea”) + grot (“particle”). Compare also Old Saxon merigrita, merigriota (“pearl”), Old High German merigrioz (“pearl”), Gothic (marikreitus, “pearl”), and contrast Old Norse hafnýra (“pearl”, literally “sea-kidney”).
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