noun
Street Slang
pearly king
PUR-lee-KING · noun · informal
A London charity figure in a suit covered in pearl buttons.
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Definitions
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One of London's Pearly Kings (and Queens), working-class charity fundraisers famed for suits sewn with mother-of-pearl buttons.
“The pearly kings and queens led the harvest festival parade.”
by community
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pearly king In A Sentence
The pearly kings and queens led the harvest festival parade.
Origin & Usage
Tradition begun in the 1870s–80s by road sweeper Henry Croft, drawing on costermonger 'pearly' dress.
Variants
pearly kings and queens
People Also Ask
What is a 'pearly king'?
One of London's Pearly Kings (and Queens), working-class charity fundraisers known for suits covered in mother-of-pearl buttons.
Where does the pearly king tradition come from?
It was begun in the 1870s–80s by a road sweeper named Henry Croft, inspired by the button-decorated 'pearly' dress of costermongers.
What do pearly kings do?
They raise money for charity and appear at London events like harvest festivals and parades in their distinctive button-covered outfits.
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