Marrow \Mar"row\, n. [OE. marou, mary, maruh, AS. mearg, mearh;
akin to OS. marg, D. merg, G. Mark, OHG. marg, marag, Icel.
mergr, Sw. merg, Dan. marv, Skr. majjan; cf. Skr. majj to
sink, L. mergere. [root]274 Cf. Merge.]
1. (Anat.) The tissue which fills the cavities of most bones;
the medulla. In the larger cavities it is commonly very
fatty, but in the smaller cavities it is much less fatty,
and red or reddish in color.
2. The essence; the best part.
It takes from our achievements . . . The pith and
marrow of our attribute. --Shak.
3. [OE. maru, maro; -- perh. a different word; cf. Gael.
maraon together.]
One of a pair; a match; a companion; an
intimate associate. [Scot.]
Chopping and changing I can not commend, With thief
or his marrow, for fear of ill end. --Tusser.
Marrow squash (Bot.), a name given to several varieties of
squash, esp. to the Boston marrow, an ovoid fruit,
pointed at both ends, and with reddish yellow flesh, and
to the vegetable marrow, a variety of an ovoid form, and
having a soft texture and fine grain resembling marrow.
Spinal marrow. (Anat.) See Spinal cord, under Spinal.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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