mother-of-pearl

The hard pearly inner layer of certain mollusk shells; nacre.

Ah, those Indian warehouses made the morning pass in a charming manner! many a soft confession was whispered over a huge china jar; many a heart has succumbed to a suite of mother-of-pearl card-box and counters; and as to the shawls, why, the whole feminine world has long ago acknowledged them to be irresistible.

A butterfly of the genus Salamis.

Made from or looking like mother-of-pearl; iridescent or pearly.