purl
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈpər(-ə)l 
1
: gold or silver thread or wire for embroidering or edging
2
: the intertwisting of thread that knots a stitch usually along an edge
3
: purl stitch
purl
2 of 4verb (1)
purled; purling; purls
transitive verb
1
a
: to embroider with gold or silver thread
b
: to edge or border with gold or silver embroidery
2
: to knit in purl stitch
intransitive verb
: to do knitting in purl stitch
purl
3 of 4noun (2)
1
: a purling or swirling stream or rill
2
: a gentle murmur or movement (as of purling water)
purl
4 of 4verb (2)
purled; purling; purls
intransitive verb
1
: eddy, swirl
2
: to make a soft murmuring sound like that of a purling stream
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English
Noun (2)
perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian purla to ripple
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1518, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing purl
purling
verb
as in eddying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- eddying
- gurgling
- rippling
- swirling
- plashing
- bubbling
- dribbling
- lapping
- washing
- splashing
- trickling
- swishing
- dripping
- swashing
- swooshing
- whishing
- squirting
- guggling
- gushing
- rushing
- spurting
- spouting
- spewing
- jetting
- dropping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rolling
- pouring
- streaming
- running
- archidiaconal
- archidiaconate
- archidiaconates
- archididascali
- archididascalian
- archididascaline
- archididascalos
- archididascalus
- archidiskida
- archidiskidons
- Archidium
- archie
- archiepiscopacy
- archiepiscopal
- archiepiscopal cross
- archiepiscopal staff
- archiepiscopalities
- archiepiscopally
- archiepiscopate
- archiepiscopates
- archigaster
- archigastrula
- archigenesis
- Archigetes
- archil