herl

[ hurl ]

noun

1. a barb of a feather, used especially in dressing anglers' flies.
2. an artificial fly dressed with a herl.

herl

/ hɜːl /

noun

1. the barb or barbs of a feather, used to dress fishing flies
2. an artificial fly dressed with such barbs

Word History and Origins

Origin of herl¹

1300–50; Middle English; cognate with Middle Low German herle, harle, Low German harl fibre, hair of flax or hemp

Word History and Origins

Origin of herl¹

C15: from Middle Low German herle, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Red Clock,—wings and legs red; Peacock's brown herl, and bright red silk for body.

From Project Gutenberg

Twitchbell—inside of lightest part of Starling's quill feather for wings, brown hackle for legs, brown Peacock's herl for body.

From Project Gutenberg

Body greenish herl of Peacock,—ribbed with gold tinsel,—wrapt with red silk,—red hackle over all.

From Project Gutenberg

A brown mallard, or dark hen-pheasant tail for wing, a black hackle for legs, and the necessary peacock-herl body.

From Project Gutenberg

Wind silk floss (E) over the herl about half way up the hook.

From Project Gutenberg