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
Yellow Silk Dk. brown floss Brown mottled turkey or grouse Ferguson Scarlet yel. and herl Mottled turkey tail, yellow and red Fern Fly Orange Floss Lt.
From How to Tie Flies by Gregg, Ellery Clark
House Fly,—lark's quill feather,—light brown silk,—ribbed with dark Ostrich herl for body,—legs grizzled hackle.
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
Grey Drake,—wings from Mallard's back feather, black Cock's hackle underneath; body sky blue camlet ribbed with copper coloured Peacock's herl; tail from Squirrel.
From The Teesdale Angler by Lakeland, R.
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.
