Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1720, 1983
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PEARL, n.2, v. Sc. variant, now obsol. in Eng., of purl.
I. n. As in Eng., a stitch in knitting (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Kcd., m. and s.Sc. 1965). Phr. to cast up a pearl, to knit a purl-stitch (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Ags., Per. 1965).Edb. 1983:
Plain and pearl.
II. v. To edge with lace, to ornament with a knitted border (Sc. 1880 Jam.; Uls. 1965). Hence pearled, having a lace border. Cf. Pearlin, and Eng. pearl, lace-loops.Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 65:
A pearled Cross-Cloth, a woven Belt.
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"Pearl n.2, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pearl_n2_v>
