It is correct to write mother of pearl (without the hyphens) as well as mother-of-pearl (with the hyphens). Either way you want to write it is correct but you may be surprised to learn that mother of pearl is not a pearl at all. Mother of pearl does have some similarities to pearls.
The âring around the rosieâ was the circle of townspeople tending the pyre of bodies being burned in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease, hence, âashes, ashesâ, and âwe all fall downâ attests to the futility of this practice. As I heard the storyâ¦.
This has lead some people to think that the ârosieâ is just a plain rosebush, after all. Perhaps the metafolklore about the origin of Ring Around the Rosie suggests that we should be more aware of the various urban legends that circulate under the false guise of history. Katie Blank Katie Blank is a Content Moderator and staff writer for Sporcle.