purl Meaning & Definition
What Does Purl Mean?
Purl is a noun that means A particular stitch in knitting in which the working yarn is pulled through an existing stitch from front to back. It can also mean The edge of lace trimmed with loops. As a verb, it means To decorate with fringe or embroidered edge. As a verb, it means To upset, to spin, capsize, fall heavily, fall headlong.
Purl: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /pɜːl/ |
| Synonyms | whirl, swirl and gurge |
| Plural | purls |
| Verb forms | purls, purling, purled |
Purl Definition (Noun)
- A particular stitch in knitting in which the working yarn is pulled through an existing stitch from front to back.
- The edge of lace trimmed with loops.
- An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.
Purl as a Verb
- To decorate with fringe or embroidered edge
Needlework purled with gold.
- To use or create a purl stitch or stitches.
Knit one, purl two.
Noun
- a heavy or headlong fall; an upset.
Verb
- To upset, to spin, capsize, fall heavily, fall headlong.
The huntsman was purled from his horse.
Verb
- To flow with a murmuring sound in swirls and eddies.
- To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.
Noun
- A circle made by the motion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.
- A gentle murmuring sound, such as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions.
the purl of a brook
Noun
- Ale or beer spiced with wormwood or other bitter herbs, regarded as a tonic.
- Hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices.
Noun
- A particular stitch in knitting; an inversion of stitches giving the work a ribbed or waved appearance.
Verb
- An inverted stitch producing ribbing etc
Knit one, purl two.
Noun
- A tern.
Synonyms of Purl
Purl synonyms and antonyms →Purl in a Sentence
Needlework purled with gold.
Knit one, purl two.
Stockinette fabric is created by knitting the right-side rows and purling the wrong-side rows.
The huntsman was purled from his horse.
the purl of a brook
Word Forms & Grammar
purl (plural purls)
purl (third-person singular simple present purls, present participle purling, simple past and past participle purled)
purl (uncountable)
Origin of Purl
Origin 1: 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.
Origin 2: from Middle English pirle (“whirligig”), Middle Italian pirla (“whipping top”).
Origin 3: 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”).[1]
Origin 4: Possibly from the pearl-like appearance caused by bubbles on the surface of the liquid.
Quick Answers About Purl
Is purl a noun or a verb?
Purl is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for purl?
Words with a similar meaning to purl include whirl, swirl and gurge. See the full list of purl synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of purl?
The plural of purl is purls.
What is the past tense of purl?
The past tense of purl is purled. The present participle is purling.