burl

noun

ˈbər(-ə)l 

1

: a knot or lump in thread or cloth

2

a

: a hard woody often flattened hemispherical outgrowth on a tree

b

: veneer made from burls

Examples of burl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes small groups of the same tree species in a tight area may all have burls. — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

With charming waved edges and deep honey burl tones, this piece feels playful and sophisticated at the same time. — Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026

The rooms are simple yet stylish, featuring burl-wood furnishings and handmade bathroom tiles. — Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Often when faced with a trauma, a redwood will swell a bank of dormant buds and woody tissue to create burls. — Greg Sullivan, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English burle, from Anglo-French *bourle tuft of wool, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *burrula, diminutive of Late Latin burra shaggy cloth

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for burl

• churl
• earl
• girl
• hurl
• merl
• merle
• perle
• swirl
• twirl
• whirl
• whorl
• cowgirl