pearly king

pearly king
n (BrE)
(in London) a man who on special occasions wears dark clothes covered in thousands of small shiny buttons. A pearly queen is a woman who does the same. This is a tradition among the people who sell fruit and vegetables from carts in the streets, but is now only done for tourists and to collect money for charities.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • pearly king — or (fem) pearly queen noun A costermonger whose costume is considered the most splendidly decorated with pearl buttons • • • Main Entry: ↑pearl * * * pearly king [pearly king] noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pearly King, Queen —    London costermongers (street vendors) are the only English occupational group to have evolved a festive costume. Men of their leading families wear black velveteen suits to which hundreds of mother of pearl buttons are sewn in decorative… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • pearly king — /pɜli ˈkɪŋ/ (say perlee king) noun British (a hereditary title adopted by certain costermongers, originally by a chief stall holder who protected other traders, now entitling the possessor to dress in costumes decorated with pearl buttons.)… …  

  • pearly king — (or pearly queen) noun a London costermonger (or his wife) wearing traditional ceremonial clothes covered with pearl buttons …   English new terms dictionary

  • pearly queen — pearly king or (fem) pearly queen noun A costermonger whose costume is considered the most splendidly decorated with pearl buttons • • • Main Entry: ↑pearl * * * pearly queen [pearly queen] ; …   Useful english dictionary

  • pearly — ► ADJECTIVE (pearlier, pearliest) ▪ like a pearl in lustre or colour. ► NOUN (pearlies) Brit. 1) a pearly king s or queen s clothes or pearl buttons. 2) informal a person s teeth …   English terms dictionary

  • Pearly Kings and Queens — Pearlies redirects here. For for the animated series, see Pearlie. Pearly King and Queen Pearly Kings and Queens, known as pearlies, are an organised charitable tradition of working class culture in London, England.[1] Th …   Wikipedia

  • pearly — adj. & n. adj. (pearlier, pearliest) 1 resembling a pearl; lustrous. 2 containing pearls or mother of pearl. 3 adorned with pearls. n. (pl. ies) (in pl.) Brit. 1 pearly kings and queens. 2 a pearly king s or queen s clothes or pearl buttons.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pearly — adjective (pearlier, pearliest) resembling a pearl in lustre or colour. noun (pearlies) 1》 Brit. a pearly king s or queen s clothes or pearl buttons. 2》 (also pearly whites) informal a person s teeth. Derivatives pearliness noun …   English new terms dictionary

  • pearly — /ˈpɜli/ (say perlee) adjective (pearlier, pearliest) 1. like a pearl or like pearl. 2. adorned with or characterised by pearls, pearl, or mother of pearl. 3. Colloquial wearing pearlies. –noun (plural pearlies) Colloquial 4. a button, especially… …  

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