v. t. [ Contr. fr. purfile, purfle. See Purfle. ] To decorate with fringe or embroidery. “Nature's cradle more enchased and purled.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band. [ 1913 Webster ]

A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched withpurl and pearl. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Purl stitch. Same as Purl, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Purled p. pr. & vb. n. Purling. ] [ Cf. Sw. porla, and E. pur to murmur as a cat. ] 1. To run swiftly round, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions; to eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound, as water does in running over or through obstructions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills,
Louder and louder purl the falling rills. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Perh. fr. F. perler to pearl, to bead. See Pearl, v. & n. ] To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle. [ 1913 Webster ]

thin winding breath which purled up to the sky. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 3d Purl. ] 1. A circle made by the notion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Perh. from F. perler, v. See Purl to mantle. ] Malt liquor, medicated or spiced; formerly, ale or beer in which wormwood or other bitter herbs had been infused, and which was regarded as tonic; at present, hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices. “Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite.” Addison. “Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes.” Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) A tern. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Corrupted (by influence of lieu place) fr. OF. puralée, poralée (equiv. to LL. perambulatio a survey of boundaries, originally, a going through); por (L. pro, confused, however, with L. per through) + alée. See Pro-, and Alley. ] [ Written also pourlieu. ] 1. Originally, the ground near a royal forest, which, having been unlawfully added to the forest, was afterwards severed from it, and disafforested so as to remit to the former owners their rights. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied
In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, the outer portion of any place; an adjacent district; environs; neighborhood. “The purlieus of St. James.” [ 1913 Webster ]

brokers had been incessantly plying for custom in the purlieus of the court. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (Arch.) In root construction, a horizontal member supported on the principals and supporting the common rafters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 3d Purl. ] The motion of a small stream running among obstructions; also, the murmur it makes in so doing. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To practice theft; to steal. Titus ii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Purloined p. pr. & vb. n. Purloining. ] [ OF. purloignier, porloignier, to retard, delay; pur, por, pour, for (L. pro) + loin far, far off (L. longe). See Prolong, and cf. Eloign. ] To take or carry away for one's self; hence, to steal; to take by theft; to filch. [ 1913 Webster ]

Had from his wakeful custody purloined
The guarded gold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

when did the muse from Fletcher scenes purloin ? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who purloins. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]