PURL • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Purl

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

Listen

noun

Purl n.

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 withpurl and pearl."

An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance.

Purl stitch. Same as Purl, n., 2.

Purl n.

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 purles, As though the waves had been of silver curls."

A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook.

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." "Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes."

(Zool.) A tern. (Prov. Eng.)

verb

Purl v. t. To decorate with fringe or embroidery. "Nature's cradle more enchased and purled."

Purl v. i. (past & past part. purled; pres. part. purling)

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 purl the falling rills."

To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle. "thin winding breath which purled up to the sky."

See images of 'Purl'

Etymology of 'Purl'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Purl" Quotes from Famous Books

... But Penrod had the delectable bottle again, and tilting it above his lips, affected to let the cool liquid purl enrichingly into him, while with his right hand he stroked his middle facade ...

— Penrod • Booth Tarkington

... western side of a valley; wooded ground, with leafy trees among the spruce and pine, and grass beneath. Hours of this, and twilight is falling, but his ear catches the faint purl of running water, and it heartens him like the voice of a living thing. He climbs the slope, and sees the valley half in darkness below; beyond, the sky to the south. He lies down ...

— Growth of the Soil • Knut Hamsun

... alas, what a little of her Shows in its cold white look! Not her glance, glide, or smile; not a tittle of her Voice like the purl of a brook; Not her thoughts, that you ...

— Late Lyrics and Earlier • Thomas Hardy

... Which ever sounds and shines A pillar of white light upon the wall Of purple cliffs, aloof descried: Come from the woods that belt the grey hill-side, The seven elms, the poplars [4] four That stand beside my father's door, And chiefly from the brook [5] that loves To purl o'er matted cress and ribbed sand, Or dimple in the dark of rushy coves, Drawing into his narrow earthen urn, In every elbow and turn, The filter'd tribute of the rough woodland. O! hither lead thy feet! Pour round mine ears the livelong bleat Of the thick-fleeced ...

— The Early Poems of Alfred Lord Tennyson • Tennyson

... reached the little stream that defined the boundary of Heart o' Dreams territory the Governor, Archie and Leary got in readiness for their dash across the bridge and over the barricade. The purl of water eager for its entrance into the bay struck upon Archie's ear with ...

— Blacksheep! Blacksheep! • Meredith Nicholson

More quotes...