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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Perle, n.¹ Also: perl(l, peirl(e, peirll, peyrl; pearl(e; per(r)il(l; pairill. [ME. and e.m.E. perle (1303), peerl(e Piers Plowman A), pearle (1526), F. perle, med. L. perla, perula.]

1. a. A pearl. b. In plur. without inflection. c. As a collective, or as a mass, noun: Pearls collectively; pearl the substance. d. Attrib. e. In fig. and allusive uses.There is ambiguity between b and c, and also, occasionally, with Perle n.² Consequently, the placing of some quotations is to be regarded as conjectural.For further examples, see the Index to Inv. Wardrobe and those to the various vols. of Treas. Acc.a. (a) 1436 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 145.
[Due mitre vna preciosa de perllis et lapidibus preciosis 1436 Exch. R. IV. 679.]
In … colerio aureo cum gemmis et perlis 1464 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 166.
v chenȝeit hyngaris anamilit cum v perllis 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 80.
A buke of gold … and on the glasp of it foure perlis and a fare ruby 1491 Acta Aud. 159. 1498 Halyb. 189.
Gyffin hym … to by perilis in Scotland 1531 Bell. Boece I. xliv.
In thir mussillis ar generit the perlis 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 33, etc.
Ane grete perle … to Monsieur Dorleanis quhyngȝear 1551 Hamilton Cat. 188.
Cleth of gold set with perlis and precious stanis a1568 Bann. MS. 228 b/24.
Hir hals perlis of pudicitie 1573 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 192/2.
Twelf perlis all sett in knoppis of gold 1573–4 Treas. Acc. XII. 382 n.
Ane hingand perle 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 239.
Coverit with gold and round perllis c1590 J. Stewart II. 72/67.
To catche ane frog and tyns the perle but peir 1608 Crim. Trials II. 544.
Ane perle of the valour … of [£110](b) 1464–5 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 162.
In summitate mitre … xiij peyrlis 1513 Doug. i. ix. 133.
The collar pight with orient peirlys 1528 Lynd. Dreme 297. 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 33. 1579 Inv. Wardrobe 279. 1591 Melville Chart. 133. a1605 Montg. Son. xlix. 1.
Thoght peirlis give pryce and diamonds be deir(c) 15.. Clar. v. 686.
Ane kirtill … Pouderit with pearlis 1559 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. lxxxix. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxvii. 8.
Glistering gemmis & pearlis of pryce 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 324.
Pearles called seed pearles 1640 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 624.(d) 1586–7 Perth B. Ct. 7 Mar.
Ane litill perilb. 1482–3 Acta Aud. *131/1.
A grete perle … and thre vther small perle 1516 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 22.
A pare of bedes of curall gawdet with sex perle 1535 Stewart 12331. 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 247.
Ane carcat of perll contenand sevin greit perle and aucht knoppis of small perle every knop contenand fyftene small perle 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 239.
Ane coffer of crammosie velvot broderit with gold and sum perll 1591-2 Rob Stene 4.
With stanis and perle innvmerable 1637 Edinb. Test. LVIII. 216 b.
Ane pairlit cheinȝie that is thred with thrie gang of pearle togidderc. (1) 1429 Acts II. 18/1.
At nane vthir weir broudry na perle na bulȝeone c1450-2 Howlat 341 (A).
The burde with orient perle plantit a1500 Henr. III. 157/26. 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 81.
A point maid of perle contenand xxv perle with hornis of gold Ib. 85.
A cassit collere … set with double perle a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 542 (Asl.).
For perle paddokis, for silkis eike serpent 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 16.
With gold and perle the bordour al bewry 1516 Acta Conc. MS. XXVIII. 34.
Ane pair of bedis of curale with vj gaudeis of perle 1531 Bell. Boece I. 217. 1535 Stewart 5569, 11899.
Peirle 15.. Clar. v. 112, etc. 1577 Edinb. Test. V. 290.
Ane pair of beidis … set about the sydis with perle 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 229.
Slevis embroderit with perll and silvir Ib. 264.
A belt of knottis of perll 1585 Ib. 320.
In England I bocht sevintene pece of perll 1596 Montgomery Mem. II. 235.
Ane cheineȝe of perle ane carkeit of perle 1603 Moysie 84. 1622 Edinb. Test. LI. 250 b.
Ane persell of perle pryce xxxiij s. 1630 Stirling's Royal Lett. II. 454.
A certan quantitie of his most choyse pearle 1630 Conv. Burghs III. 313.
Ane patent of the perle purchased be Robert Buchan 1632 Stirling's Royal Lett. II. 613.
That all our subjects hath libertie frielie to fisch and tak pearle 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 385. 1639 Acts V. (1870) 597/2.
Anent the article against the patent grauntedto Ro^t Buchan for the perle(b) 1570 Leslie 71.
Garnishet with perrill and pretious stanis 1614 Pont Cunningham App. 197.
Ane schaddow of orien pairill(2) a 1500 Coll. St. Salvator 160 (see Moderperl).
Moder perld. 1540–1 Treas. Acc. VII. 423.
Perle bedis 1605 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III. 197.
Ane litle perill schadow estimat to [£66/13/4] 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 301.
Pearle seid the once 1649 Wemyss Chart. 232.
My peirll chaingei and peirll boutons and peirll and roubei braislitse. (1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 180.
Welcome to be our princes … Our perle our plesans [etc.] Ib. lxxxvi. 41.
Hail purifyet perle haile port of paradyse Ib. lxxxvii. 4.
Our perle of price our princes 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 5.
Virgill … Thow peirles perle Ib. xii. Prol. 309.
The lusty crafty preambill, perle of May I thé entitil 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 547.
That peirle preclare that lusty plesand quene 1533 Gau 104/18.
Thyr flesclie men lichtlis the precious peirl Christis wangel 1549 Compl. h. of ch.
Marie Quene of Scotlande the margareit and perle of princessis a1550 Tayis Bank 82. a1550 Ave Gloriosa 48.
Thou precius perle of pris 1567 Sat. P. vii. 71.
Our prettie prince the peirle of all this land 1570 Ib. xxiii. 1. 15.. Edinb. Univ. MS. La.iv.6.
Bot be that perle superlative Scho is the lustiest on live a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 30. Ib. xcv. 15.
Sen thow that perle [sc. Sir Richard Maitland] hes cruellie from vs reuin 1580 Hume Promine Epistle 2. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 442 (M).
That sic ane perle of plesance suld ȝon pane drie! 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 431.
Kyng James the first … peirll of polycie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 340.
The perle of pulchritude a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 3.
Job … Of prudence perll a1586 Kamington Chron. Setoun in Maitland Geneal. Setoun 48.
Right prouident ane pearle of patience c1600 Montg. Suppl. i. 49.
O peirles peirle of pulchritude(2) 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 134.
The plane … Bedyit full of dewy peirlys rovnd 1587-99 Hume 208/85.(3) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 136.
The holsum herbis medicinall … Lyke aurient peirles on the twistis hang a1585 Maitl. Q. xl. 90.
Ȝour teith lyik … perle of orient Ib. xlviii. 68. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. 28.
Lyik diamontis with cristall perlis mixit c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxiii. 3. 1603 Philotus lxi.
Ȝour teith the peirls micht of thair place depryue(4) 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 108.
I was to bald to cast peirlis to the swyne 1563-72 Ferg. Tracts 42. 1600-1610 Melvill 375.
We mein nocht to … sett our peirles befor sic swyne a1650 Row 422.
We doe not lightlie pearls though gathered out of a dung-hill

2. A thin white film growing over the eye, a kind of cataract.e.m.E. and ME. (1382), med. L. perula. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 151/341.
Sho also breidis the pearle upon the eye That dimmis the schein & cataracte that darke & clouddie be