1
Stage 1 of 3
perna
Latin · ancient
"a mussel shell"
possibly related to a word for a leg or ham, describing the mussel's shape
2
Stage 2 of 3
perle
Old French · medieval
"a lustrous gem from a mollusk"
carried into French for the lustrous gem formed inside a mollusk
3
Stage 3 of 3
pearl
English · 1300s
"a lustrous gem formed inside a mollusk"
settled as the English word for the lustrous gem
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