marrow

noun

1. 1

   The substance inside bones which produces blood cells.

   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.

   Chop me up, I like to be hurt / Drink my marrow and blood for dessert

2. 2

   A kind of vegetable similar to a large courgette, zucchini or squash; the mature fruit of certain Cucurbita pepo cultivars.

   The finest European vegetables, cabbages, cauliflowers, potatoes, vegetable marrow, were lying in the market-hall, awaiting purchasers.

3. 3

   The pith of certain plants.

4. 4

   figurativeThe essence; the best part.

   It takes from our achievements[…]/ The pith and marrow of our attribute.

   I cannot commend , with theefe of his marrow, for feare of ill end

5. 5

   figurativeThe inner meaning or purpose.

6. 6

   Bone marrow biopsy.

   This patient will have a marrow today.

7. 7

   obsoleteSemen.

   Parolles: He wears his honour in a box, unseen / That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home, / Spending his manly marrow in her arms / Of Mars’s fiery steed.

noun

1. 1

   informalA friend, pal, buddy, mate.

   Cheers marrow!

2. 2

   obsoleteA miner's mate or assistant.

   A 'getter' or miner is paid 1½ to 2 cents per hundred weight of Coals excavated, […] but out of this sum, his "marrows" or assistants who do the business of 'putting' and 'hurrying' for him must be paid […]

3. 3

   archaicOne of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate.

   The moon’s my constant Mistresse / & the lowlie owle my morrowe. / The flaming Drake and yͤ Nightcrowe make / mee musicke to my sorrowe.

   The dreichest saul could see he had sunlicht in his ee, / And there's no his marrow left in the toun.

Forms

plural

marrows