Purl \Purl\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Purled; p. pr. & vb. n. Purling.]

[Cf. Sw. porla, and E. pur to murmur as a cat.]

1. To run swiftly round, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions; to eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound, as water does in running over or through obstructions. [1913 Webster]

Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills, Louder and louder purl the falling rills. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. [Perh. fr. F. perler to pearl, to bead. See Pearl, v. & n.]

To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle. [1913 Webster]

thin winding breath which purled up to the sky. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Purl \Purl\, v. t. [Contr. fr. purfile, purfle. See Purfle.]

To decorate with fringe or embroidery. "Nature's cradle more enchased and purled." --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Purl \Purl\, n.

1. An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band. [1913 Webster]

A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched withpurl and pearl. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]

2. An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance. [1913 Webster]

Purl stitch. Same as Purl, n., 2. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Purl \Purl\, n. [See 3d Purl.]

1. A circle made by the notion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple. [1913 Webster]

Whose stream an easy breath doth seem to blow, Which on the sparkling gravel runs in purles, As though the waves had been of silver curls. --Drayton. [1913 Webster]

2. A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook. [1913 Webster]

3. [Perh. from F. perler, v. See Purl to mantle.]

Malt liquor, medicated or spiced; formerly, ale or beer in which wormwood or other bitter herbs had been infused, and which was regarded as tonic; at present, hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices. "Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite." --Addison. "Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes." --Dickens. [1913 Webster]

4. (Zool.) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

[1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

50 Moby Thesaurus words for "purl": adjoin, babble, befringe, bind, border, bound, bubble, burble, eddy, edge, enframe, frame, fringe, guggle, gurge, gurgle, gyrate, gyre, hem, lap, line, list, march, marge, margin, marginate, pirouette, plash, purfle, reel, rim, ripple, set off, side, skirt, slosh, spin, splash, swash, swirl, swish, trill, trim, twirl, verge, wash, whirl, whirligig, whirlpool, whorl

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

purl

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Purl \Purl\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Purled; p. pr. & vb. n. Purling.]

[Cf. Sw. porla, and E. pur to murmur as a cat.]

1. To run swiftly round, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions; to eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound, as water does in running over or through obstructions.

Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills, Louder and louder purl the falling rills. --Pope.

2. [Perh. fr. F. perler to pearl, to bead. See Pearl, v. & n.]

To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.

thin winding breath which purled up to the sky. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Purl \Purl\, n. [See 3d Purl.]

1. A circle made by the notion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.

Whose stream an easy breath doth seem to blow, Which on the sparkling gravel runs in purles, As though the waves had been of silver curls. --Drayton.

2. A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook.

3. [Perh. from F. perler, v. See Purl to mantle.]

Malt liquor, medicated or spiced; formerly, ale or beer in which wormwood or other bitter herbs had been infused, and which was regarded as tonic; at present, hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices. ``Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite.'' --Addison. ``Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes.'' --Dickens.

4. (Zo["o]l.) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Purl \Purl\, v. t. [Contr. fr. purfile, purfle. See Purfle.]

To decorate with fringe or embroidery. ``Nature's cradle more enchased and purled.'' --B. Jonson.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Purl \Purl\, n.

1. An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.

A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched withpurl and pearl. --Sir P. Sidney.

2. An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance.

Purl stitch. Same as Purl, n., 2.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)