Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A particular stitch in knitting in which the working yarn is pulled through an existing stitch from front to back.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The edge of lace trimmed with loops.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a heavy or headlong fall; an upset.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A circle made by the motion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A gentle murmuring sound, such as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Ale or beer spiced with wormwood or other bitter herbs, regarded as a tonic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, archaic, dialectal, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, archaic, dialectal, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To decorate with fringe or embroidered edge
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To use or create a purl stitch or stitches.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, knitting, manufacturing, textiles
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To upset, to spin, capsize, fall heavily, fall headlong.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To flow with a murmuring sound in swirls and eddies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a basic knitting stitch
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: purl stitch
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: knitting stitch
noun
gold or silver wire thread
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: thread, yarn
verb
make a murmuring sound
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: sough
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: make noise, resound, noise
verb
embroider with gold or silver thread
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: embroider, broider
verb
edge or border with gold or silver embroidery
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: embroider, broider
verb
knit with a purl stitch
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: knit
verb
flow in a circular current, of liquids
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: eddy, whirlpool, swirl, whirl
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: run, flow, feed, course
History
Unknown; apparently related to Scots and dialect pirl (“twist, ripple, whirl, spin”), and possibly to Older Scots pyrl ("thrust or poke at"). Compare Venetan pirlo, an embellishment where the woven threads are twisted together. May be unrelated to purfle, though the meanings are similar.
from Middle English pirle (“whirligig”), Middle Italian pirla (“whipping top”).
From Old Norse purla (“to babble”), possibly ultimately from an imitative Germanic base related to Dutch polder, Norwegian puldra (“to gush”) and pulla (“to bubble”), Old English polr (“marsh”).
Possibly from the pearl-like appearance caused by bubbles on the surface of the liquid.
Across languages
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
