purl Hear it!

purl¹ Definition

purl (pʉrl)

intransitive verb

  1. to move in ripples or with a murmuring sound
  2. to move in eddies; swirl

Etymology: < ? Scand, as in Norw purla, to ripple

noun

  1. a purling stream or rill
  2. the murmuring sound of purling water

purl² Definition

purl (pʉrl)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

  1. purfle
  2. to edge (lace) with a chain of small loops
  3. to form (one or more inverted stitches) in knitting

Etymology: earlier pirl, prob. < the n.

noun

  1. twisted metal thread, as of gold or silver, used in embroidery
  2. a small loop, or a chain of loops, made on the edge of lace
  3. an inversion of stitches in knitting to produce a more varied texture

Etymology: earlier pyrle < a Romance source as in It (Venetian) pirlo, a joining of warp and woof by twisting together the threads < echoic base *pirl, to twirl

purl Usage Examples

Object

  • stream: There were purling streams, lush meadows and wooded hills, all as pleasant as can be.
  • stitch: Pull yarn A over to left and wrap yarn B under A as you bring it across to purl the next stitch.

Converse of object

  • knit: How on earth can you " knit one purl one " at speed?
  • assign: Documents issued in different versions, will be assigned different PURLs.

Preposition: with

url: The PURL resolution service associates the PURL with the actual URL and returns that URL to the client.

Modifies a noun

  • stitch: Knitting continues in the round in stocking stitch, with a false seam created by a column of purl stitches down each side.
  • side: The purl side of the stocking stitch fabric is called reverse stocking stitch.
  • row: Starting with a purl row work garter pattern for 15 rounds.
  • work: Starting with a purl row work garter pattern for 15 rounds.