furl

¹ American  

[furl] / fɜrl /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become furled.

noun

1. the act of furling.

2. something furled, as a roll.

idioms

1. furl in the bunt, to furl (a square sail) by gathering canvas upward, so as to load the yard equally at all points.

2. furl in a body, to furl (a square sail) with loose canvas gathered at the mast, so as to make a harbor furl.

furl. ² American  

abbreviation

1. furlough.

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furl British  

/ fɜːl /

verb

1. to roll up (an umbrella, a flag, etc) neatly and securely or (of an umbrella, flag, etc) to be rolled up in this way

2. (tr) nautical to gather in (a square sail)

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noun

1. the act or an instance of furling

2. a single rolled-up section

Other Word Forms

• furlable adjective
• furler noun

Etymology

Origin of furl

1550–60; compare Middle French ferler in same sense, perhaps representing Old French ferlier to chain, fasten, equivalent to fer firm (< Latin firmus ) + lier to bind (< Latin ligāre )

Example Sentences

In one hand her cane, in the other a furled flag.

From Literature

With his tail furled and ears aslant, he seemed to enjoy being out in front of thirteen dogs, seven of them strangers he would soon lord it over.

From Literature

I squint at the ships anchored in the harbor, their flags furled, their hulls bobbing in the sea’s waves.

From Literature

They packed up their chairs and furled banners, as the makeshift tent city slowly transformed back into a standard campus plaza.

From Los Angeles Times

A furry ball, tightly furled, fell out of it.

From Literature