Where does “purl” come from?
Purl is an English word derived from Old Norse purla, whose original meaning remains unknown.
purl (English): A particular stitch in knitting; an inversion of...
Definitions
- A particular stitch in knitting; an inversion of...
Ancestry of “purl”, step by step
purl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English pirle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pirle | whirligig |
| 2 | Italian | pirla | dick, cock, prick; fool, moron, idiot |
via Old Norse purla
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | purla | to babble |