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Purl vs Hurl - What's the difference?

purl | hurl |

In intransitive terms the difference between purl and hurl

is that purl is to flow with a murmuring sound in swirls and eddies while hurl is to participate in the sport of hurling.

As nouns the difference between purl and hurl

is that purl is a particular stitch in knitting; an inversion of stitches giving the work a ribbed or waved appearance while hurl is a throw, especially a violent throw; a fling.

As verbs the difference between purl and hurl

is that purl is to decorate with fringe or embroidered edge while hurl is to throw (something) with force.

purl

English

Etymology 1

Etymology uncertain; apparently related to Scots and dialect pirl ("twist, ripple, whirl, spin"), and possibly to Older Scots pyrl ("thrust or poke at"). Compare Venetian pirlo , an embellishment where the woven threads are twisted together. May be unrelated to purfle, though the meanings are similar.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A particular stitch in knitting; an inversion of stitches giving the work a ribbed or waved appearance.
  • The edge of lace trimmed with loops.
  • An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
  • A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched with purl and pearl.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To decorate with fringe or embroidered edge
  • Needlework purled with gold.
  • (knitting) an inverted stitch producing ribbing etc
  • Knit one, purl two.

    Etymology 2

    from (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a heavy or headlong fall; an upset.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To upset, to spin, capsize, fall heavily, fall headlong.
  • The huntsman was purled from his horse.

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To flow with a murmuring sound in swirls and eddies.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills, / Louder and louder purl the falling rills.
  • To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.
  • * Shakespeare
  • thin winding breath which purled up to the sky

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect) A circle made by the motion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.
  • * Drayton
  • Whose stream an easy breath doth seem to blow, / Which on the sparkling gravel runs in purles , / As though the waves had been of silver curls.
  • (UK, dialect) A gentle murmuring sound, such as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions.
  • the purl of a brook

    Etymology 4

    Possibly from the pearl-like appearance caused by bubbles on the surface of the liquid.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (archaic) Ale or beer spiced with wormwood or other bitter herbs, regarded as a tonic.
  • * The Spectator , number 88
  • A double mug of purle .
  • (archaic) Hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices.
  • * Addison
  • Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite.
  • * Charles Dickens
  • Drinking hot purl , and smoking pipes.

    Etymology 5

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect) A tern.
  • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    *

    hurl

    English

    Verb

  • To throw (something) with force.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author= , title=Wales 2-1 Montenegro , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Tottenham wing was causing havoc down the right and when he broke past the bemused Sasa Balic once again, Bellamy was millimetres from connecting with his cross as the Liverpool striker hurled himself at the ball.}}
  • * 1918 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), Chapter IV
  • I was standing on the edge of the conning-tower, when a heavy palm suddenly struck me between the shoulders and hurled me forward into space. The drop to the triangular deck forward of the conning-tower might easily have broken a leg for me, or I might have slipped off onto the deck and rolled overboard; but fate was upon my side, as I was only slightly bruised.
  • * 1912 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 5
  • Tarzan on his part never lost an opportunity to show that he fully reciprocated his foster father's sentiments, and whenever he could safely annoy him or make faces at him or hurl insults upon him from the safety of his mother's arms, or the slender branches of the higher trees, he did so.
  • To utter (harsh or derogatory speech), especially at its target.
  • The gangs hurled abuse at each other.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1984 , title=New International Version of the Bible , section=Mark 15:29-30 , passage=Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!"}}
  • To participate in the sport of hurling.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=August 3 , author=Donnchadh Boyle , title=Egan targets Rebel success to rescue poor season , work=Irish Independent citation , page= , passage=Their cause was helped after the senior footballers were unexpectedly dumped out of the running for the Sam Maguire, meaning Aidan Walsh is available to hurl full-time with the young Rebels -- Walsh scored 1-1 in the semi-final victory over reigning All-Ireland champions Tipperary.}}
  • (slang) To vomit.
  • Pass me the bucket; I've got to hurl .
  • (obsolete) To twist or turn.
  • * Hooker
  • hurled or crooked feet

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A throw, especially a violent throw; a fling.
  • He managed a hurl of 50.3 metres.
    A hurl of abuse.
    (Congreve)
  • The act of vomiting.
  • (hurling) The act of hitting the sliotar with the hurley.
  • (Ulster) (car) ride
  • (obsolete) tumult; riot; hurly-burly
  • (obsolete) A table on which fibre is stirred and mixed by beating with a bow spring.