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purfle

American  
[pur-fuhl] / ˈpɜr fəl /

verb (used with object)

purfled, purfling
  1. to finish with an ornamental border.

  2. to decorate (a shrine or tabernacle) with architectural forms in miniature.


noun

  1. Also called purfling. an ornamental border, as the inlaid border near the outer edge of the table and back of a stringed instrument.

purfle British  
/ ˈpɜːfəl /

noun

  1. a ruffled or curved ornamental band, as on clothing, furniture, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to decorate with such a band or bands

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of purfle

1275–1325; Middle English purfilen < Middle French porfiler to make or adorn a border, equivalent to por- pro 1 + filer to spin, derivative of fil thread < Latin fīlum. See profile


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.

See Examples For:

Hast aught plotting in the hem of thy purfle, or in thy holiday ruff and fardingale?

From Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 by John Roby

He made some good instruments, but did not purfle them.

From Violins and Violin Makers Biographical Dictionary of the Great Italian Artistes, their Followers and Imitators, to the present time. With Essays on Important Subjects Connected with the Violin. by J. H. (Joseph Henry) Pearce

Alive or dead, Riton used them despitefully; for it was his wont to shave the beards of these kings, and purfle therewith a cloak of furs that he wore, very rich.

From Arthurian Chronicles: Roman de Brut by Eugene Mason

This toll was established because sir Crudor, with whom she was in love, refused to marry her till she had provided him with human hair sufficient to "purfle a mantle" with.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer

Item—A coat of tawney damask, purfled with velvet, appertaining to our Lady.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 577, July 7, 1827 by Various

Long middle bouts and corners; style and work very primitive, mostly double purfled.

From The Violin Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators by George Hart

Not to be Bishop of Verona, throned and purfled on Can Grande's right hand, will I consent to traffic my Vanna.

From Little Novels of Italy by Maurice Henry Hewlett

Item—A coat for her son, of the same satin, purfled with black velvet, and spangled with gold.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 577, July 7, 1827 by Various

They're sewn together with steel cross-stitches, halbert over sword, Pg 316Spear across lance and death the purfled seam!

From Adventures in Criticism by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

The sound holes straight and large, well cut and parallel, and double purfling.

From Violins and Violin Makers Biographical Dictionary of the Great Italian Artistes, their Followers and Imitators, to the present time. With Essays on Important Subjects Connected with the Violin. by J. H. (Joseph Henry) Pearce

"Don't see, sir, why we can't put a bit of purfling round as clean as that! some of those French copies are as cleanly purfled as any part of this!"

From The Repairing & Restoration of Violins 'The Strad' Library, No. XII. by Horace Petherick

Having roughly measured the length of the piece of purfling to be inserted, he finds that it will be necessary to bend it to the curves of the groove made for it.

From The Repairing & Restoration of Violins 'The Strad' Library, No. XII. by Horace Petherick

The purfling of the brothers Amati is very beautifully executed.

From The Violin Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators by George Hart

The purfling is of whalebone, like that of most of the Dutch makers.

From The Violin Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators by George Hart

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