furl

¹

[furl]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. to become furled.

noun

1. the act of furling.

2. something furled, as a roll.

furl.

²

abbreviation

1. furlough.

furl

/ 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)

noun

1. the act or an instance of furling

2. a single rolled-up section

Other Word Forms

• furlable adjective
• furler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of furl¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of furl¹

C16: from Old French ferlier to bind tightly, from ferm tight (from Latin firmus _firm ¹ ) + lier to tie, bind, from Latin ligāre

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

They packed up their chairs and furled banners, as the makeshift tent city slowly transformed back into a standard campus plaza.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A furry ball, tightly furled, fell out of it.

Read more on Literature

The baby’s tail or “fluke,” critical to swimming, was still furled from being compacted in utero.

Read more on National Geographic

Accusations roiled inside of me, swirling in my head like furling tornado clouds, until I thought I might explode if I didn’t let them out.

Read more on Literature

Near the bandstand, a group of people danced in a circle to Khmer music, dreamily furling their fingers and twisting their wrists.

Read more on Los Angeles Times