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• furl
  furl

  verb (used with object)

  to gather into a compact roll and bind securely, as a sail against a spar or a flag against its staff.
• furl.
  furl.

  abbreviation

  furlough.

furl

¹ American  

[furl] / fɜrl /

verb (used with object)

1. to gather into a compact roll and bind securely, as a sail against a spar or a flag against its staff.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become furled.

noun

1. the act of furling.

2. something furled, as a roll.

idioms

1. furl in the bunt, to furl (a square sail) by gathering canvas upward, so as to load the yard equally at all points.

2. furl in a body, to furl (a square sail) with loose canvas gathered at the mast, so as to make a harbor furl.

furl. ² American  

abbreviation

1. furlough.

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furl British  

/ fɜːl /

verb

1. to roll up (an umbrella, a flag, etc) neatly and securely or (of an umbrella, flag, etc) to be rolled up in this way

2. (tr) nautical to gather in (a square sail)

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noun

1. the act or an instance of furling

2. a single rolled-up section

Other Word Forms

• furlable
  adjective
• furler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of furl

1550–60; compare Middle French ferler in same sense, perhaps representing Old French ferlier to chain, fasten, equivalent to fer firm (< Latin firmus ) + lier to bind (< Latin ligāre )

Explanation

To furl is to roll something up, the way you furl your sleeping bag before sliding it into your backpack on a camping trip. Furl comes from roots meaning "to hold firmly" and "to bind." It's frequently used when sailors take down sails and roll them securely: "Furl the main sail! There's a storm brewing!" You can also use it for a leaf or flower that's curled up, as opposed to unfurled: "Those blossoms furl at night and open in the daytime." Or, if you want to show off your vocabulary, you might say: "Let me just furl these burritos and then we can eat."

Example Sentences

The new charges in both counties were filed against Furl John Williams, 24, who police said has no fixed address.

From Washington Post • May 10, 2017

Furl each strip into a tight roll that's easy to handle and bundle it up with a piece of tie-down.

From Time Magazine Archive

Pressing a button hoisted the mainsail from its Leisure Furl boom.

From Time Magazine Archive

Naval talk I've learnt in places Where the British seamen are; "Furl the main-top," "splice the braces."

From Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853) by Various

Furl it! for the hands that grasped it, And the hearts that fondly clasped it, Cold and dead are lying low; And that Banner—it is trailing!

From Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States by Semmes, Raphael