Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Purl
Purl
,Verb.
T.
To decorate with fringe or embroidery.
“Nature’s cradle more enchased and purled.” B. Jonson.
Purl
,Noun.
1.
An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.
A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched with
purl
and pearl. Sir P. Sidney.
2.
An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance.
Purl stitch
. Same as , 2.
Purl
, Noun.
Purl
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Purled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Purling
.] [Cf. Sw.
porla
, and E. pur
to murmur as a cat.] 1.
To run swiftly round, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions; to eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound, as water does in running over or through obstructions.
Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills,
Louder and louder
Louder and louder
purl
the falling rills. Pope.
2.
To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.
thin winding breath which
purled
up to the sky. Shakespeare
1.
A circle made by the notion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.
Whose stream an easy breath doth seem to blow,
Which on the sparkling gravel runs in
As though the waves had been of silver curls.
Which on the sparkling gravel runs in
purles
,As though the waves had been of silver curls.
Drayton.
2.
A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions;
as, the
. purl
of a brook3.
[Perh. from F.
perler
, v. See Purl
to mantle.] Malt liquor, medicated or spiced; formerly, ale or beer in which wormwood or other bitter herbs had been infused, and which was regarded as tonic; at present, hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices.
“Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite.” Addison.
“Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes.” Dickens.
4.
(Zool.)
A tern.
[Prov. Eng.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Purl
PURL
,Noun.
1.
An embroidered and puckered border.2.
A kind of edging for bone-lace.PURL
,Noun.
PURL
,Noun.
PURL
,Verb.
I.
1.
To murmur, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions, which occasion a continued series of broken sounds. It is applied only to small streams. Large streams running in like manner, are said to roar. In descriptions of rural scenery, the poets seldom omit a purling brook or stream. My flowery theme,
A painted mistress or a purling stream.
2.
To flow or run with a murmuring sound. Around th' adjoining brook that purls along
The vocal grove, now fretting o'er a rock.
PURL
,Verb.
T.
PURL
,Noun.
Definition 2024
purl
purl
English
Noun
purl (plural purls)
- A particular stitch in knitting; an inversion of stitches giving the work a ribbed or waved appearance.
- The edge of lace trimmed with loops.
- An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.
- Sir Philip Sidney
- A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched with purl and pearl.
- Sir Philip Sidney
Translations
a particular stitch in knitting
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Verb
purl (third-person singular simple present purls, present participle purling, simple past and past participle purled)
- To decorate with fringe or embroidered edge
- Needlework purled with gold.
- (knitting) an inverted stitch producing ribbing etc
- Knit one, purl two.
Etymology 2
from Middle English pirle (“whirligig”), Middle Italian pirla (“whipping top”)
Noun
purl (plural purls)
- a heavy or headlong fall; an upset.
Verb
purl (third-person singular simple present purls, present participle purling, simple past and past participle purled)
- (archaic) To upset, to spin, capsize, fall heavily, fall headlong.
- The huntsman was purled from his horse.
Related terms
Etymology 3
From Old Norse purla (“to babble”)
Verb
purl (third-person singular simple present purls, present participle purling, simple past and past participle purled)
- (intransitive) To flow with a murmuring sound in swirls and eddies.
- Alexander Pope
- Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills, / Louder and louder purl the falling rills.
- Alexander Pope
- To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.
- Shakespeare
- thin winding breath which purled up to the sky
- Shakespeare
Noun
purl (plural purls)
- (Britain, dialect) A circle made by the motion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.
- Drayton
- Whose stream an easy breath doth seem to blow, / Which on the sparkling gravel runs in purles, / As though the waves had been of silver curls.
- Drayton
- (Britain, dialect) A gentle murmuring sound, such as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions.
- the purl of a brook
Translations
Etymology 4
Possibly from the pearl-like appearance caused by bubbles on the surface of the liquid.
Noun
purl (uncountable)
- (archaic) Ale or beer spiced with wormwood or other bitter herbs, regarded as a tonic.
- The Spectator, number 88
- A double mug of purle.
- The Spectator, number 88
- (archaic) Hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices.
- Addison
- Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite.
- Charles Dickens
- Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes.
- Addison
Etymology 5
Noun
purl (plural purls)