How to pronounce purl
American English pronunciation
PURL
- IPA
- /ˈpɝl/
- Syllables
- PURL (1 syllable)
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What purl means
A basic knitting stitch, the reverse of a plain stitch
In a sentence: Nana taught me to knit one row and then purl the next.
Where it comes from: It is apparently related to an old Scottish word meaning to twist or spin.
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Another meaning
The soft, gentle gurgle of a flowing stream
In a sentence: We fell asleep to the purl of the brook below the cabin.
Where it comes from: It comes from an old Scandinavian word, purla, meaning to babble, possibly from a root meaning to gush or bubble. It is a different word from the knitting purl.
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