marrow

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See also: Marrow

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English mary, marow, marwe, marowȝ, from Old English mearg, from Proto-West Germanic *maʀg, from Proto-Germanic *mazgą, *mazgaz, from Proto-Indo-European *mosgʰos. Compare West Frisian moarch, Dutch merg, German Mark, Swedish märg, Icelandic mergur, and also Russian мозг (mozg, brain), Persian مغز (mağz, brain).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈmæɹəʊ/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: mărʹō
    • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "nMmmm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈmæɹoʊ/
    • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "Mmmm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈmɛ(ə)ɹoʊ/
  • Audio (UK):(file)
  • Rhymes: -æɹəʊ

Noun

marrow (countable and uncountable, plural marrows)

Transected beef bones, exposing the marrow inside
Vegetable marrows
  1. (uncountable) The substance inside bones which produces blood cells.
    • Template:RQ:Vance Nobody
      Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
    • 2004, Bloodbath, Eaten
      Chop me up, I like to be hurt / Drink my marrow and blood for dessert
  2. (countable) A kind of vegetable like a large courgette/zucchini or squash.
    • 1847, Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk, "Steam-Boat Voyage to Barbados", Bentley's Miscellany, Vol XXII, London: Richard Bentley, p.37:
      The finest European vegetables, cabbages, cauliflowers, potatoes, vegetable marrow, were lying in the market-hall, awaiting purchasers.
  3. The pith of certain plants.
  4. The essence; the best part.
  5. The inner meaning or purpose.
  6. (medicine, colloquial) Bone marrow biopsy.
    This patient will have a marrow today.
  7. (obsolete) Semen.
Synonyms
Derived terms


Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

Etymology 2

From Old Norse margr.

Alternative forms

Noun

marrow (plural marrows)

  1. (Geordie, informal) A friend, pal, buddy, mate.
    Cheers marrow!
  2. (Scotland or archaic) One of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate.
    • c. 1620 anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665):
      The moon’s my constant Mistresse
      & the lowlie owle my morrowe.
      The flaming Drake and yͤ Nightcrowe make
      mee musicke to my sorrowe.
Derived terms

References

  • A Dictionary of North East Dialect, Bill Griffiths, 2005, Northumbria University Press, →ISBN
  • Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893–4
  • A List of words and phrases in everyday use by the natives of Hetton-le-Hole in the County of Durham, F.M.T.Palgrave, English Dialect Society vol.74, 1896, [1]