mother-of-pearl Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell
    nacre.

WordNet


Moth"er-of-pearl` noun
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) The hard pearly internal layer of several kinds of shells, esp. of pearl oysters, river mussels, and the abalone shells; nacre. See Pearl.

Webster 1913