furl
/fəːl
/verb [with object]
Roll or fold up (something) neatly and securely: the flag was tightly furled (as adjective furled) the plant sends up cones of furled leaves...
- Fearing they would be blown into the island cliffs, the crew furled the main sail, then to lower the ship's profile further, Alexander ordered the main spar lowered.
- Aida remembered that Maria arose early in the morning, when the blooms were tightly furled.
- Men who have climbed a gyrating mast to furl a sail in a storm or have laboured at the helm in rough seas will never underestimate the power of the sea.
Origin
Late 16th century: from French ferler, from Old French fer, ferm 'firm' + lier 'bind' (from Latin ligare).
ally from Middle English:
Latin alligere ‘combine together’, formed from ad- ‘to(gether)’ and ligare ‘bind’ developed into two closely related words in Old French: alier which became ally in English, and aloyer which became alloy (late 16th century). Ligare is also hidden in furl (late 16th century) which comes from French ferler, from ferm ‘firm’ and lier ‘bind’; league (Late Middle English) a binding together; and oblige (Middle English) originally meaning ‘bind by oath’.
Rhymes
- refractive index
- refractively
- refractiveness
- refractive power
- refractometer
- refractometric
- refractometrically
- refractometry
- refractor
- refractorily
- refractoriness
- refractory
- refractory period
- refracture
- refragable
- refraid
- refrain
- refrainer
- reframe
- refranation
- refrangent
- refrangibility
- refrangible
- refreeze
- refrenation