• (RP) IPA: /ˈmæɹəʊ/
• (America) IPA: /ˈmæɹoʊ/, /ˈmeɹoʊ/, /ˈmɛɹoʊ/

marrow

1. (uncountable) The substance inside bones which produces blood cells.
   • 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, chapter III, in Nobody, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 1915, OCLC 40817384 ↗:

     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.

2. (countable) A kind of vegetable like a large courgette/zucchini or squash.
   • 1847, Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk, "Steam-Boat Voyage to Barbados", Bentley's Miscellany, Vol XXII, London: Richard Bentley, p.37:

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

3. The pith of certain plants.
4. The essence; the best part.
   • c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene iv]:

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

   • Chopping and changing I cannot commend, / With thief or his marrow, for fear of ill end.

5. The inner meaning or purpose.
6. (medicine, colloquial) Bone marrow biopsy.

   This patient will have a marrow today.

7. (obsolete) Semen.
   • 1601–1608, William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well, act ii, scene 3

     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.

• (the essence; the best part) crux, gist; See also Thesaurus:gist

• French: moelle, moelle osseuse
• German: Mark
• Italian: midollo
• Portuguese: medula, tutano, miolo
• Russian: ко́стный мозг
• Spanish: médula, tuétano, meollo

• French: courgette, courge
• German: Flaschenkürbis
• Italian: zucchina
• Portuguese: abobrinha
• Russian: кабачо́к
• Spanish: calabaza

marrow (plural marrows)

1. (Geordie, informal) A friend, pal, buddy, mate.

   Cheers marrow!

2. (Scotland or archaic) One of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate.
   • c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o' Bedlam” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665):

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

1. Surname