purfle

[ pur-fuhl ]

verb (used with object),pur·fled, pur·fling.
  1. to finish with an ornamental border.

  2. to decorate (a shrine or tabernacle) with architectural forms in miniature.

noun
  1. Also called purfling. an ornamental border, as the inlaid border near the outer edge of the table and back of a stringed instrument.

Origin of purfle

1
1275–1325; Middle English purfilen<Middle French porfiler to make or adorn a border, equivalent to por-pro1 + filer to spin, derivative of fil thread <Latin fīlum.See profile

Other words from purfle

  • purfler, noun

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British Dictionary definitions for purfle

purfle

/ (ˈpɜːfəl) /


nounAlso: purfling
  1. a ruffled or curved ornamental band, as on clothing, furniture, etc

verb
  1. (tr) to decorate with such a band or bands

Origin of purfle

1
C14: from Old French purfiler to decorate with a border, from filer to spin, from fil thread, from Latin fīlum

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012