furl
[ furl ]
/ fɜrl /
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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.
verb (used without object)
to become furled.
noun
the act of furling.
something furled, as a roll.
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Idioms about furl
furl in a body, Nautical. to furl (a square sail) with loose canvas gathered at the mast, so as to make a harbor furl.
furl in the bunt, Nautical. to furl (a square sail) by gathering canvas upward, so as to load the yard equally at all points.
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)
OTHER WORDS FROM furl
furl·a·ble, adjectivefurler, nounOther definitions for furl (2 of 2)
furl.
abbreviation
furlough.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use furl in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for furl
furl
/ (fɜːl) /
verb
to roll up (an umbrella, a flag, etc) neatly and securely or (of an umbrella, flag, etc) to be rolled up in this way
(tr) nautical to gather in (a square sail)
noun
the act or an instance of furling
a single rolled-up section
Derived forms of furl
furlable, adjectivefurler, nounWord Origin for furl
C16: from Old French ferlier to bind tightly, from ferm tight (from Latin firmus firm 1) + lier to tie, bind, from Latin ligāre
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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