Definitions for "Mother-of-pearl"
The hard, iridescent, pearly internal layer of several kinds of shells, esp. of pearl oysters, river mussels, and the abalone shells; nacre. See Pearl.
The iridescent lining of an oyster shell, often used as a nucleus for a cultured pearl.
is the smooth, hard pearly lining on the interior of upper and lower shells of certain oysters and other molluscs, used to make decorative objects, buttons and beads.