Purl

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pɜːl/, pʰəːɫ
• US IPA: /pɝl/, pʰɝɫ
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)l
• Homophones: pearl

Etymology uncertain; apparently related to Scots and dialect pirl ("twist, ripple, whirl, spin"), and possibly to Older Scots pyrl ("thrust or poke at"). Compare Venetian pirlo, an embellishment where the woven threads are twisted together. May be unrelated to purfle, though the meanings are similar.

Full definition of purl

Noun

1. A particular stitch in knitting; an inversion of stitches giving the work a ribbed or waved appearance.
2. The edge of lace trimmed with loops.
3. 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 SidneyA triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched with purl and pearl.

Verb

1. To decorate with fringe or embroidered edgeNeedlework purled with gold.
2. (knitting) an inverted stitch producing ribbing etcKnit one, purl two.

from Middle English pirle ("whirligig"), Middle Italian pirla ("whipping top")

Noun

1. a heavy or headlong fall; an upset.

Verb

1. (archaic) To upset, to spin, capsize, fall heavily, fall headlong.The huntsman was purled from his horse.

Related terms

• purler

From Old Norse purla ("to babble")

Verb

1. (intransitive) To flow with a murmuring sound in swirls and eddies.
• Alexander PopeSwift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills,
  Louder and louder purl the falling rills.
2. To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.
• Shakespearethin winding breath which purled up to the sky

Noun

1. (UK, dialect) A circle made by the motion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.
• DraytonWhose 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.
2. (UK, dialect) A gentle murmuring sound, such as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions.the purl of a brook

Possibly from the pearl-like appearance caused by bubbles on the surface of the liquid.

Noun

1. (archaic) Ale or beer spiced with wormwood or other bitter herbs, regarded as a tonic.
• The Spectator, number 88A double mug of purle.
2. (archaic) Hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices.
• AddisonDrank a glass of purl to recover appetite.
• Charles DickensDrinking hot purl, and smoking pipes.

Noun

1. (UK, dialect) A tern.

Anagrams

• PLUR