meregrot

Probably from Late Latin margarita, recast by folk etymology as though mere (“sea”) +‎ grot (“particle”). Compare also Old Saxon merigrita, merigriota (“pearl”), Old High German merigrioz (“pearl”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌹𐌺𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌿𐍃 (marikreitus, “pearl”), and contrast Old Norse hafnýra (“pearl”, literally “sea-kidney”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈme.reˌɡrot/

meregrot n

1. a pearl
   • late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History

     Swylċe ēac þēos eorþe is berende missenlīcra fugela ⁊ sǣwihta ⁊ hēr bēoþ oft fanġene seolas ⁊ hronas and mereswȳn; ⁊ hēr bēoþ oft numene missenlīcra cynna weolcsċylle ⁊ muscule, ⁊ on þām oft ġemette þā betstan meregrotan ǣlces hīwes.

     This land also bears various birds and sea creatures, and seals, porpoises, and dolphins are often caught here; and various kinds of mussels and shellfish are often taken, and in them the best pearls of every color are often found.

Strong a-stem:

• eorcnanstān
• meregrota