Nacre
/ˈneɪkər/noun
A smooth, iridescent substance forming the inner layer of some mollusk shells, also called mother-of-pearl.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Arabic nāqar, linked to the shell material itself, and it entered European languages through trade routes that moved luxury goods and words together.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
PS
*nqr
“A root associated with shell-like or hollow material in Semitic languages”
Arabic
Arabic
نَقْر (naqr)
“Shell material; nacre or mother-of-pearl”
Old French
OF
nacre
“Mother-of-pearl”
Middle English
ME
naker / nacre
“Mother-of-pearl”
Modern English
English
nacre
“The iridescent inner layer of certain shells”