pearl oyster

noun

1. any of several marine bivalve mollusks of the family Pteriidae, some of which form pearls of great value, inhabiting waters of eastern Asia and off the coasts of Panama and Baja California.

pearl oyster

noun

1. any of various tropical marine bivalves of the genus Pinctada and related genera: a major source of pearls

Word History and Origins

Origin of pearl oyster¹

First recorded in 1685–95