Curl \Curl\, v. i.

1. To contract or bend into curls or ringlets, as hair; to grow in curls or spirals, as a vine; to be crinkled or contorted; to have a curly appearance; as, leaves lie curled on the ground.

Thou seest it [hair] will not curl by nature. --Shak.

2. To move in curves, spirals, or undulations; to contract in curving outlines; to bend in a curved form; to make a curl or curls. ``Cirling billows.'' --Dryden.

Then round her slender waist he curled. --Dryden.

Curling smokes from village tops are seen. --Pope.

Gayly curl the waves before each dashing prow. --Byron.

He smiled a king of sickly smile, and curled up on the floor. --Bret Harte.

3. To play at the game called curling. [Scot.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Curl \Curl\ (k[^u]rl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Curled (k[^u]rld); p. pr. & vb. n. Curling.]

[Akin to D. krullen, Dan. kr["o]lle, dial. Sw. krulla to curl, crisp; possibly akin to E. crook. Cf. Curl, n., Cruller.]

1. To twist or form into ringlets; to crisp, as the hair.

But curl their locks with bodkins and with braid. --Cascoigne.

2. To twist or make onto coils, as a serpent's body.

Of his tortuous train, Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve. --Milton.

3. To deck with, or as with, curls; to ornament.

Thicker than the snaky locks That curledMeg[ae]ra. --Milton.

Curling with metaphors a plain intention. --Herbert.

4. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.

Seas would be pools without the brushing air To curl the waves. --Dryden.

5. (Hat Making) To shape (the brim) into a curve.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Curl \Curl\ (k[^u]rl), n. [Akin to D. krul, Dan. kr["o]lle. See Curl, v. ]

1. A ringlet, especially of hair; anything of a spiral or winding form.

Under a coronet, his flowing hair In curls on either cheek played. --Milton.

2. An undulating or waving line or streak in any substance, as wood, glass, etc.; flexure; sinuosity.

If the glass of the prisms . . . be without those numberless waves or curls which usually arise from the sand holes. --Sir I. Newton.

3. A disease in potatoes, in which the leaves, at their first appearance, seem curled and shrunken.

Blue curls. (Bot.) See under Blue.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)