furl means to lower, roll up and secure (something, such as a sail or flag). It carries an Arena rating of 1465, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, furl ranks #45 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #323 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #3,454 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #7,720 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words.
furl is pronounced /fɜːl/.
Why “furl” is a great word
To neatly gather, roll, and secure a sail, flag, or similar object. From Old French *ferlier*, modern French *ferler*, meaning 'to tie up, furl'. Unlike "unfurl," which is its symmetrical, expansive release, or "stow," which implies mere storage without the elegant, preparatory roll, to furl is the deliberate grammar of reduction. It is the methodical rolling of canvas against a storm's approach, the snapping neatness of an umbrella's collapse into itself, or the flag becoming a tight cylinder at day's end—a gesture of closure that holds dormant potential in its folds.
Etymology
Perhaps from Old French ferlier, modern French ferler.
verb
- To lower, roll up and secure (something, such as a sail or flag)
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- unfurl 81% match — To unroll or release something that had been rolled up, typically a sail or a flag. vs furl →
- upfurl 71% match — To furl upward. vs furl →
- refurl 70% match — To furl again or anew. vs furl →
- furlough 58% match — A leave of absence or vacation.; Especially one granted to a member of the armed forces, or to a prisoner. vs furl →
- furbelow 58% match — A frill, flounce, or ruffle, as on clothing; a decorative piece of fabric, especially one gathered or pleated as into a ruffle, etc. vs furl →
- flemish 56% match — Of or relating to Flanders, either as the historical county of Flanders (the current provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders in Belgium, Zeelandic Flanders in the Netherlands and French Flanders); or as the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium. vs furl →
- unfurrow 55% match — To remove the furrows from. vs furl →
- furlougher 54% match — A person on a furlough, or leave of absence. vs furl →