An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A phenomenon that occurs during a total eclipse of the Sun. Just prior to and after totality, sunlight shines through the lunar valleys on the Moon’s limb, causing the dark face of the Moon to appear to be surrounded by a shining “necklace of pearls”.

Etymology (EN): Baily, from Francis Baily (1774-1844), English amateur astronomer, who discovered the phenomenon during the solar eclipse of 1836. Beads “a necklace of beads or pearls; a rosary,” from bead “a small, often round piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, that is pierced for stringing or threading,” from M.E. bede “rosary bead,” from O.E. bed, bedu, gebed “prayer;” PIE *gwhedh- “to ask, pray”.

Etymology (PE): Mohrehâ “beads,” from mohré “a kind of small shell resembling pearls; glass or coral beads,” cf. Khotanese mrâhe, may be related to morvârid, → pearl,

• -hâ suffix of plurals.