furl

1 of 2

verb

furled; furling; furls
Synonyms of furlnext

transitive verb

: to wrap or roll (something, such as a sail or a flag) close to or around something

intransitive verb

: to curl or fold as in being furled

furl

2 of 2

noun

1
: a furled coil
2
: the act of furling

Examples of furl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
For now, the Bill of Rights remains in her slip — her sails furled, her resident cats Midnight and Magic keeping watch, and her crew waiting for something more than a vague promise to arrive in writing. Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2026 Like a toddler urgently pointing to something the adult world long ago stopped seeing, or feeling the magic of, there’s power furled up in that insistent gesture, that demand to pay attention. Susan Tallman, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2025 Fast-Track Sailing Kokomo was one of the first yachts to be fitted with a hydraulic batt-car system for furling the mainsail, which has cars at each batten end that slot in an outer track on the mast. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 My papa’s house furled and unfurled, high as a church steeple in some parts, and low as a dung beetle in others. Okwiri Oduor, Harper's Magazine, 15 June 2022
Noun
Buffington placed it on a binder and tried to separate the paper’s furls. Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026 Pirate Yakuza proverbial monkey’s paw furls on providing a thrilling pirate life and crime simulator at the expense of a more coherent or emotional story. Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2025 Winehouse was entirely in her element, swaying to the sultry songs like a furl of smoke and improvising inflections on the lyrics with aplomb. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 18 May 2024 Suddenly, billowing puffs of pollen furl out from the pine’s branches and float through the air like a fluffy, yellow cloud. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 10 May 2018 Just look at Redbor kale, which is extravagantly purple, with rich pink in the stems, kinks of fuchsia in the veins, and furls of rosy curls. Adrienne Rose Johnson, Bon Appetit, 15 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Anglo-French ferlier to fasten, from fer, ferm tight (from Latin firmus firm) + lier to tie, from Latin ligare — more at ligature

First Known Use

Verb

1556, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of furl was in 1556

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Furl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/furl. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

furl

1 of 2 verb
: to wrap or roll (as a sail or a flag) close to or around something

furl

2 of 2 noun
1
: a furled coil
2
: the act of furling

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