herl
Americannoun
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a barb of a feather, used especially in dressing anglers' flies.
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an artificial fly dressed with a herl.
noun
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the barb or barbs of a feather, used to dress fishing flies
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an artificial fly dressed with such barbs
Etymology
Origin of herl
1300–50; Middle English; cognate with Middle Low German herle, harle, Low German harl fibre, hair of flax or hemp
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What did be think I coaid do jot herl We’re here to fight wildlings. not save them.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Red Clock,—wings and legs red; Peacock's brown herl, and bright red silk for body.
From The Teesdale Angler by Lakeland, R.
Little Black Ant—feather of a Bluecap's tail for wings, black Ostrich herl dressed small in the middle for body, brown hackle for legs.
From The Teesdale Angler by Lakeland, R.
Red Ant—Lark's Quill feather for wings, cock Pheasant's herl from tail for body, red hackle for legs.
From The Teesdale Angler by Lakeland, R.
I do not hesitate to say that I have taken more trout, of all kinds, on a brown hackle with peacock herl body, than any of the other common wet fly patterns.
From How to Tie Flies by Gregg, Ellery Clark
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
