Etymology

Noun

1. A fringe or border.
2. A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.
3. Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious.
4. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.
5. A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
6. A light-colored tern.
7. One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.
8. A whitish speck or film on the eye.
9. A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether.
10. A size of type, between agate and diamond.

Verb

1. To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.
2. To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.
3. To resemble pearl or pearls.
4. To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling.
5. to dig the nose of one's surfboard into the water, often on takeoff.
   • 1999, Joanne VanMeter http://www.letsplay.net/archive99/020399.shtml:

     Used a pointed tip today and learned why I kept pearling with my round tipped board. Round noses like to dig into the water, causing frustrating wipeouts.