# marrow

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmæɹəʊ/ · frequency rank #14,364

## Definitions
1. The substance inside bones which produces blood cells.
2. A kind of vegetable similar to a large courgette, zucchini or squash.
3. The pith of certain plants.
4. The essence; the best part.
5. The inner meaning or purpose.
6. Bone marrow biopsy.
7. Semen.

## Etymology
From Middle English mary, marow, marwe, marowȝ, from Old English mearg, from Proto-West Germanic *maʀg, from Proto-Germanic *mazgą, *mazgaz, from Proto-Indo-European *mosgʰos. Compare West Frisian moarch, Dutch merg, German Mark, Swedish märg, Icelandic mergur, and also Russian мозг (mozg, “brain”), Polish mózg (“brain”), Ashkun amōźã, Kamkata-viri muč, muj, Waigali muj, Persian مغز (maġz, “brain”), Sanskrit मज्जन् (majján). Doublet of maghaz.

## Easily confused with
- **marry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marrow-vs-marry)
- **mirror** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marrow-vs-mirror)
- **morrow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marrow-vs-morrow)
- **matron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marrow-vs-matron)
- **Marr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marr-vs-marrow)
- **Mario** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mario-vs-marrow)
- **Marco** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marco-vs-marrow)
- **macro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/macro-vs-marrow)
- **Margo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/margo-vs-marrow)
- **Marko** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marko-vs-marrow)
- **Marion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marion-vs-marrow)
- **Marcos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marcos-vs-marrow)
- **maroon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maroon-vs-marrow)
- **Margot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/margot-vs-marrow)
- **marred** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marred-vs-marrow)
- **macron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/macron-vs-marrow)
- **Marlow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marlow-vs-marrow)
- **Maddow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maddow-vs-marrow)
- **Marlowe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marlowe-vs-marrow)

## Common misspellings (7)
`amrrow`, `marorw`, `marow`, `marroww`, `marrwo`, `mmarrow`, `mrarow`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/marrow