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Purl   Listen
noun
Purl  n.  
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 withpurl and pearl."
2.
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.  
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 purles, As though the waves had been of silver curls."
2.
A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook.
3.
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."
4.
(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)  
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 purl the falling rills."
2.
To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle. "thin winding breath which purled up to the sky."





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Purl" Quotes from Famous Books



... comfortably upon the cushions of the boat, which had drifted idly about since early twilight, the night's sounds were indescribably peaceful. The lap and purl of water, the rustle of birch, the call of an owl in the forest, the noise of frog and tree toad and innumerable crickets, they were all, paradoxically enough, the wildwood sounds ...
— Diane of the Green Van • Leona Dalrymple
... him what had happened, and he replied that he was going to a house where the people knew him and would let him in. When we arrived there, the people of the house were very civil; the landlady made us some purl, which the quarter-master ordered, and which I thought very good indeed. After we had finished the jug, we both fell asleep in our chairs. I did not awaken until I was roused by the quarter-master, at past seven o'clock, when we took a wherry, and ...
— Peter Simple and The Three Cutters, Vol. 1-2 • Frederick Marryat
... be one of our men, and I was delighted to see him. I told him what had happened, and he replied that he was going to a house where the people knew him and would let him in. When we arrived there, the people of the house were very civil; the landlady made us some purl, which the quarter-master ordered, and which I thought very good indeed. After we had finished the jug, we both fell asleep in our chairs. I did not awaken until I was roused by the quarter-master, at past seven o'clock, when we took a wherry, and ...
— Peter Simple and The Three Cutters, Vol. 1-2 • Frederick Marryat
... has the honour to answer hangs at the gate of a west-end livery-stables, and his consequence is proportionate. To none under the degree of a groom does he condescend a nod of recognition—with a second coachman he drinks porter—and purl (a compound of beer and blue ruin) with the more respectable individual who occupies the hammer-cloth on court-days. Tom estimates a man according to his horse, and his civility is regulated according to his estimation. He pockets a gratuity with as much ease as ...
— Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 1, September 12, 1841 • Various
... astern. The westerly had failed them. The spreading canvas of the yacht was already blanketing the little sloop, stealing what little wind filled her sail. And as the sloop's way slackened the other slid down upon her, a purl of water at her forefoot, her wide mainsail bellying ...
— Poor Man's Rock • Bertrand W. Sinclair


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