burl
[ burl ]
/ bɜrl /
noun
a small knot or lump in wool, thread, or cloth.
a dome-shaped growth on the trunk of a tree; a wartlike structure sometimes 2 feet (0.6 meters) across and 1 foot (0.3 meters) or more in height, sliced to make veneer.
verb (used with object)
to remove burls from (cloth) in finishing.
Words nearby burl
burkinabé, burkini, burkitt, burkitt lymphoma, burkitt's lymphoma, burl, burladero, burlap, burlecue, burled, burleigh
Origin of burl
1400–50; late Middle English burle ≪ Old French; akin to Medieval Latin burla bunch, sheaf, Late Latin burra wool, fluff
OTHER WORDS FROM burl
burl·er, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for burl
British Dictionary definitions for burl (1 of 2)
burl1
/ (bɜːl) /
noun
a small knot or lump in wool
a roundish warty outgrowth from the trunk, roots, or branches of certain trees
verb
(tr) to remove the burls from (cloth)
Derived forms of burl
burler, nounWord Origin for burl
C15: from Old French burle tuft of wool, probably ultimately from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth
British Dictionary definitions for burl (2 of 2)
burl2
birl
/ (bɜːl) /
noun informal
Scot, Australian and NZ an attempt; try (esp in the phrase give it a burl)
Australian and NZ a ride in a car
Word Origin for burl
C20: perhaps from birl 1 in the Scot sense: a twist or turn
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Scientific definitions for burl
burl
[ bûrl ]
A large, rounded outgrowth on the trunk or branch of a tree. Burls develop from one or more twig buds whose cells continue to multiply but never differentiate so that the twig can elongate into a limb. Burls do not usually cause harm to trees.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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