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. √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.
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.