purl

views updated May 18 2018

purl¹ / pərl/ • adj. denoting or relating to a knitting stitch made by putting the needle through the front of the stitch from right to left. Compare with knit.• n. a purl stitch.• v. [tr.] knit with a purl stitch: knit one, purl one.purl² • v. [intr.] (of a stream or river) flow with a swirling motion and babbling sound.• n. [in sing.] a motion or sound of this kind.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

purl

views updated May 23 2018

purl1 cord made of twisted gold or silver wire; † pleat, frill XVI; loop on the edge of lace, etc. XVII; inversion of stitches in knitting producing a ribbed appearance XIX.
So vb. XVI. orig. pyrle, pirle, of unkn. orig. The last sense of the sb. may be a different word.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

purl

views updated Jun 11 2018

purl3 revolve, whirl round XVIII; turn head over heels XIX. perh. identical with PURL1.
Hence purler headlong fall, swingeing blow. XIX.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

purl

views updated Jun 27 2018

purl Old English winter drink; warmed ale with bitters and brandy or milk, sugar, and spirit.

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

Purl

views updated Jun 08 2018

Purl

a small rill in which waters are in a whirl of agitation.

Examples : purl of her sweet breath, 1850; of lace; of water, 1552; of youthful blood, 1650; purls flowering from the fountain of life, 1650.

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms

purl

views updated May 21 2018

purl2 (of water) whirl with a murmuring sound. XVI.
So sb. † small rill XVI; purling motion or sound XVII. prob. imit.; cf. Norw. purla bubble up, gush out, Sw. dial. porla ripple, gurgle.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD