seed pearl

American  

noun

1. a pearl weighing less than ¼ grain.

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seed pearl British  

noun

1. a tiny pearl weighing less than a quarter of a grain

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Etymology

Origin of seed pearl

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

The king of this country is an idolater; he uses another dress, which reaches from his head to his feet, full of gold rings and jewellery and seed pearl.

From A Description of the Coasts of East Africa and Malabar in the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century by Barbosa, Duarte

In addition to these, I got in all, one hundred and eighty-seven of the size of peas, besides a large handful of the seed pearl.

From Afloat and Ashore A Sea Tale by Cooper, James Fenimore

They found here a long slip of the finest sables, eight ells in length and an ell broad, adorned at regular distances with strings of pearls and small tufts of seed pearl, regularly placed.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 05 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert

Her eyes are two diamond sparks, melted into lustre; and her teeth, seed pearl, lying between rubies.

From Thaddeus of Warsaw by Porter, Jane

The only ornament worn by her was a large burnt topaz—that stone which fire turns a rose red tint—attached to a seed pearl chain.

From Jane Oglander by Lowndes, Marie Belloc