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FURL

 - 4 dictionary results

furl

[furl]
–verb (used with object)
1. to gather into a compact roll and bind securely, as a sail against a spar or a flag against its staff.
–verb (used without object)
2. to become furled.
–noun
3. the act of furling.
4. something furled, as a roll.
5. furl in a body, Nautical. to furl (a square sail) with loose canvas gathered at the mast, so as to make a harbor furl.
6. furl in the bunt, Nautical. to furl (a square sail) by gathering canvas upward, so as to load the yard equally at all points.

Origin:
1550–60; cf. MF ferler in same sense, perh. repr. OF ferlier to chain, fasten, equiv. to fer firm (< L firmus) + lier to bind (< L ligāre)


furl⋅a⋅ble, adjective
furler, noun

furl.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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furl   (fûrl)   
v.   furled, furl·ing, furls

v.   tr.
To roll up and secure (a flag or sail, for example) to something else.
v.   intr.
To be or become rolled up.
n.  
  1. The act or an instance of rolling up.

  2. A single roll or a rolled section.


[Perhaps from French ferler, from Old French ferlier, to fasten : ferm, firm; see firm1 + lier, to bind (from Latin ligāre; see leig- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

furl 
1556, possibly from M.Fr. ferler "to furl," from O.Fr. ferlier, perhaps from fer "firm" (from L. firmus; see firm (adj.)) + -lier "to bind" (from L. ligare).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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