noun
1.
a small knot or lump in wool, thread, or cloth.
2.
a dome-shaped growth on the trunk of a tree; a wartlike structure sometimes 2 feet (0.6 meters) across and 1 foot (0.3 meters) or more in height, sliced to make veneer.
verb (used with object)
3.
to remove burls from (cloth) in finishing.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English burle ≪ Old French; akin to Medieval Latin burla bunch, sheaf, Late Latin burra wool, fluff
1400–50; late Middle English burle ≪ Old French; akin to Medieval Latin burla bunch, sheaf, Late Latin burra wool, fluff
Related forms
burl·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To burl
Collins
World English Dictionary
burl1 (bɜːl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a small knot or lump in wool |
| 2. | a roundish warty outgrowth from the trunk, roots, or branches of certain trees |
| —vb | |
| 3. | (tr) to remove the burls from (cloth) |
| [C15: from Old French burle tuft of wool, probably ultimately from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth] | |
| 'burler1 | |
| —n | |
00:10
Burl
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to bark; yelp. |
| burl or birl2 (bɜːl) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | (Scot), (Austral), (NZ) an attempt; try (esp in the phrase give it a burl) |
| 2. | (Austral), (NZ) a ride in a car |
| [C20: perhaps from | |
| birl or birl2 | |
| —n | |
| [C20: perhaps from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
burl
"small knot in wool or cloth," mid-15c., from O.Fr. bourle "tuft of wool," which perhaps is related to the root of bur, or from V.L. *burrula "small flock of wool," from L.L. burra "wool."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
burl  (bûrl) Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) A large, rounded outgrowth on the trunk or branch of a tree. Burls develop from one or more twig buds whose cells continue to multiply but never differentiate so that the twig can elongate into a limb. Burls do not usually cause harm to trees. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
In the beautiful elevator, with the metalwork and the cherry-burl walls, he feels a solace.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
