Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “burl” come from?

burl (English) comes from Middle English burle, from Old French bourril, from Old French bourre, from Medieval Latin burra, from Latin burrus, from Ancient Greek πυρρός, from Ancient Greek πῦρ, from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wr̥ — bonfire; spelt.

burl (English): A tree growth in which the grain has grown in a...

Definitions

  1. A tree growth in which the grain has grown in a...

Ancestry of “burl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishburlea knot or flaw in cloth
2Old Frenchbourrilflocks or ends of threads which disfigure cloth
3Old Frenchbourre—
4Medieval Latinburraflock of wool, coarse hair; A small cow with a...
5Latinburrusred, reddish-brown
6Ancient Greekπυρρόςflame-coloured, yellowish-red; red-haired,...
7Ancient Greekπῦρa fire; lightning; a fever
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpéh₂wr̥bonfire; spelt

Words derived from “burl”

  • burlwood
  • burler
Every word from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wr̥ →