curln.
/kəːl/, U.S. /kərl/ 1. A lock of hair of a spiral or convolute form; a ringlet.Applied indifferently to a flat spiral like the mainspring of a watch, a cork-screw-like form (helix), or anything intermediate to or approaching these forms.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > hair of head > curl > [noun]
feak1548
lovelock1592
crisple1594
curl1604
cockle1608
crisp1638
ringlet1645
cockera1653
heartbreaker1654
moustache1662
confidenta1685
cruchea1685
passagerea1685
favourite1690
wimpler1724
cannon1774
whisker1786
favori1801
curlet1803
tendril1814
sausage curl1828
spit-curl1831
crimp1855
curdle1860
number sices1861
whiskerette1880
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 55 Hiperions curles, the front of Ioue himselfe. View more context for this quotation
1612 Mr. King tr. Benvenuto Passenger ii. ii. sig. Hhhh2 Artes to stiffen their kirles on the Temples, and to adorne their foreheads.
1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 132 Their hair was long and dangling in curls.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 102. ¶7 To..adjust a Curl of Hair.
1856 D. M. Mulock John Halifax I. ii. 24 He tossed back his curls, and looked smiling out through the window.
2. Anything of a similar spiral or incurved shape; a coil, wreath, convolution, undulation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > types of curvature > [noun] > curled condition or formation > curled thing or part
curl?1615
tendril1615
curling1678
quirl1761
pirl1880
squirl1979
?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) xxiii. (R.) [An oar] which breakes The waues in curles.
a1635 T. Randolph Poems (1638) 12 About each limbe he hurles His wanton body into numerous curles.
1682 N. Grew Anat. Plants iv. i. i. 147 The several Labels of a Groundsel-Leaf are all laid in a Back-Curl.
1774 T. Twining in Recreat. & Stud. (1882) 30 Purcell, with all his old curls and twiddles, is perfection to him.
1832 G. Downes Lett. from Continental Countries I. 387 Here and there were curls of smoke.
3.
a. The action of curling, or state of being curled. in curl, out of curl: said of hair which is kept curled, or which has gone straight. Also figurative, as in to go out of curl: to lose one's activity and ‘vim’, to become limp.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > types of curvature > [noun] > curled condition or formation
crispation1626
curling1626
curl1665
kink1678
crispature1745
quirling1754
kinkle1862
the world > health and disease > ill health > be in ill health [verb (intransitive)] > be weak > become weak
of-fall?a1200
fail?c1225
wastea1300
languisha1325
defail1340
languora1375
defaulta1382
wastea1387
faintc1450
mortifyc1475
hink?a1500
traik?a1513
droopc1540
unquick1595
macerate1598
dodder1617
lachanize1623
smartle1673
break1726
go1748
sink1780
wilt1787
falter1799
weaken1886
to go down1892
to go out of curl1924
1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 188 In calm weather..the water is pacifique and without the least visible curl or wrinkle.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. iv. 27 It [sc. the breeze] comes in a fine, small, black Curle upon the Water.
1793 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 4 47 The waves..spend their fury in a gentle curl up the slope.
1835 J. G. Whittier Hunters of Men iii Hunting the black man, whose sin Is the curl of his hair and the hue of his skin!
a1893 Mod. To keep the hair in curl.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers i. 10 Tha'rt not long in taking the curl out of me.
1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey i. ix ‘If you got pneumonia,’ he said, ‘I should go clean out of curl.’
1964 E. McCarthy Frankly Feminine 52 A ‘perm-set’..will stay in curl for around eight weeks.
b. curl of the lip: a slight elevation or bending of the upper lip, expressive of scorn or disgust.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [noun] > action of expressing contempt > by facial expression > instance of
rhinoceros nose1555
frump1590
fleera1616
rhinocerot's nose1616
sneer1706
curl of the lip1814
1814 Ld. Byron Corsair i. x. 13 The lip's least curl, the lightest paleness..speak alone Of deeper passions.
1857 H. Spencer Orig. Music in Ess. (1891) II. 402 Disgust [is shown] by a curl of the lip.
c. Angling. An eddy in a stream; also a ripple on the surface of water caused by the wind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > types of waves > [noun] > small wave or ripple
wrinkle1633
ruffle1655
curl1766
ripple1785
ripplet1805
wavelet1813
pirl1817
wimple1845
riffle1925
ankle-slapper1991
1766 R. Bowlker Universal Angler 132 Throw..into holes and curls of the water, for there the best fish commonly lie.
1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 47 See, the fish are rising..I think I can reach the curl yonder.
1855 C. Kingsley Glaucus 17 The breeze has come on, and there has been half-an-hour's lively fishing curl.
d. Cricket. The action of the verb (see curl v.1 9); spec. = break n.1 5, spin n.1 2c.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > motion of ball > specific
curl1833
screw1840
devil1845
rise1845
work1846
break1851
spin1851
hang1866
bump1867
fire1888
leg-spin1888
air break1900
turn1900
underspin1901
off-spin1904
finger spin1905
swing1906
back-spin1916
outswing1921
inswing1927
away swing1936
wrist-spin1960
1833 J. Nyren Young Cricketer's Tutor 98 They had such a peculiar curl that they would grind his fingers against the bat.
1867 G. H. Selkirk Guide to Cricket Ground vi. 91 Cover point must be careful to allow for the ‘curl’ of the ball after grounding.
1871 Baily's Monthly Mag. June 168 His bowling..being straight..with a nice curl from the leg across the wicket.
1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iii. 157 In 1878 there was another..slow bowler named Allan.. His bowling had a considerable amount of spin, but..the most extraordinary thing connected with it was the inward curl in the air towards the body of the batsman.
e. Mathematics. The vector product (written curl F or ∇ × F) of the operator ∇ (see del n.) with some given vector F; it gives a measure of the ‘vorticity’ or rotation at each point in the vector field F.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > tensor > [noun] > vector > vector product
curl1873
outer multiplication1881
outer product1884
triad1885
rotation1908
1873 J. C. Maxwell Treat. Electr. & Magnetism I. 28 To interpret the vector part of ∇σ..let us examine the vector σ—σo near the point P. It will appear as in the figure.., this vector being arranged on the whole tangentially in the direction opposite to the hands of a watch. I propose (with great diffidence) to call the vector part of ∇σ the curl, or the version of σ at the point P.
1882 O. Heaviside in Electrician 18 Nov. 8/1 When one vector or directed quantity, B, is related to another vector, C, so that the line-integral of B round any closed curve equals the integral of C through the curve, the vector C is called the curl of the vector B.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXVII. 964/1 If A represent the magnetic force at any point of an electro-magnetic field, the vector (∇A) will represent the electric current. In the general case it is called the curl, or the rotation, of A.
1943 H. Margenau & G. M. Murphy Math. Physics & Chem. iv. 148 The curl of the linear velocity of any point of a rigid body equals twice the angular velocity.
1965 J. B. Marion Princ. Vector Anal. ii. 83 A paddlewheel placed in a fluid will remain stationary..where curl v = o. A field which everywhere has a vanishing curl is called an irrotational field.
1965 J. B. Marion Princ. Vector Anal. ii. 83 Both the divergence and the curl are encountered frequently in hydrodynamics and in electromagnetic theory but only infrequently in the mechanics of particles.
f. In surfing: see quot. 1962.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > water sports except racing > surfing > [noun] > types or parts of wave
pounder1927
dumper1933
take-off1935
greeny1940
beach break1954
beacher1956
big kahuna1959
greenback1959
close out1962
curl1962
shore break1962
shoulder1962
soup1962
tube1962
wall1962
face1963
peak1963
pipeline1963
set1963
reef break1965
surfable wave1965
point break1966
green room1968
slide1968
barrel1975
left-hander1980
A-frame1992
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > types of waves > [noun] > breaker > part
curl1962
shoulder1962
tube1962
1962 T. Masters Surfing made Easy 64 Curl, the curved top of a breaking wave.
1965 M. Farrelly & C. McGregor This Surfing Life iv. 43 The semi-hollow wave..allows you to pick up speed in the top half, and when it breaks you can move down to the botton half and ride underneath the curl, free of the white water.
1968 W. Warwick Surfriding in N.Z. 10/3 Paddle towards the peak and as it becomes critical turn your board, and come back with the curl.
4.
a. A disease of potatoes, in which the shoots are curled up and imperfectly developed; a disease of other plants, in which the leaves are curled up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > viral diseases > associated with food or crop plants > potatoes
curl1790
leaf curl1850
leafroll1859
aucuba mosaic1922
rugose mosaic1923
1790 Trans. Soc. Arts 8 29 The [potato] crops..have..grown up sound and good, and free from Curl.
1832 E. Lankester Veg. Substances Food 148 The curl first made its appearance in this country in..1764, in Lancashire.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. I. 363 Curl, a formidable disease in potatoes, referrible to Chlorosis, in which the tubers produce deformed curled shoots..which are never perfectly developed.
1882 Garden 25 Feb. 133/2 Curl.. occurs when the Roses have been occupying the ground for a very long period.
b. A potato affected with this disease.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > viral diseases > associated with food or crop plants > potatoes > diseased potato
curl1791
1791 Trans. Soc. Arts 9 61 Why some Curls appear in a crop that has been carefully managed.
Compounds
curl-crested, curl-faced, curl-headed adjs.; curl-tuft; curl-cloth n. a kind of woollen cloth with a curly surface. curl-cloud n. = cirrus n.1 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > types of hair > [adjective] > curly > having
crispc900
crullc1300
curled1590
curl-headed1591
curl-pated1594
curled-head?1611
curled-pate?1611
curly1827
curly-headed1827
well-curled1833
curly-haired1846
curly-pated1862
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [noun] > a cloud > cirrus
cirrus1803
curl-cloud1817
cirrus-cloud1864
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from wool > [noun] > with curly surface
curl-cloth1885
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Crespo Curle headed.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vi. xxi. 226/2 Long bearded, curle-headed.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Volute,..the writhen circle, or curle~tuft that..sticks out of the chapter of a piller, etc.
1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion xiv. 227 The curle-fac't Bull.
1695 Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Of Consol. Philos. i. 7 And raise the curle-headed Wave.
1817 Edinb. Monthly Mag. 1 637/2 The sky was full of cirrus or curlcloud.
1885 Daily News 6 Oct. 3/2 The new astrakhan..is used for coats and jackets..It is sometimes called curl cloth.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
curlv.1
/kəːl/, U.S. /kərl/ I. transitive.† 2. To furnish or adorn with curls or ringlets; also figurative. Obsolete.
1.
a. To bend round, wind, or twist into ringlets, as the hair.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > beautify (the hair) [verb (transitive)] > curl
crispc1340
crook1340
pincha1398
curl1447
frouncea1529
creis1553
frizzle1565
thrum1598
becurl1614
calamistrate1628
frizz1660
fruz1702
crimp1708
buckle1721
befriz1772
crape1774
crêpe1818
crinkle1871
permanently wave1901
marcel1906
water-wave1912
permanent wave1921
permanent1924
perm1928
tong1932
scrunch1983
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1354 Þat other wyþ þe crollid her..þat ys Berard.]
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 142 A chyld apperyd..Barefoot and wyth heer kurlyd semely.
1493 Festivall (1515) 164 Therfore (ye women)..haue not your visage popped ne your here pulled or crouled.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Pivv/2 To Curle, crispare.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 20 They curle their haire and are proud of it.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Lett. 12 Aug. He curls his hair in the most killing manner.
1891 Truth 10 Dec. 1240/2 Black cocks' feathers, curled, formed the collar.
b. to curl (a person's) hair: to horrify, to frighten. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being horrible > horrify [verb (transitive)]
agrisec1225
uga1250
freeze1398
curl1530
abhor1531
to chill the (also a person's) blood1637
horror1642
horrorize1820
horrify1822
behorror1857
to curl (a person's) hair1949
1949 ‘P. Wentworth’ Spotlight xix. 119 And anything like the language—..I give you my word it was enough to curl your hair.
1958 Ann. Reg. 1957 186 Mr. Humphrey said that, unless the Government stopped taking so much out of the economy, there would be ‘a depression that will curl your hair’.
c. to curl the mo, to succeed brilliantly, to win. So curl- (kurl-) the-mo, curl-a-mo, etc., attributive phrases, excellent, outstanding. Australian slang.
ΚΠ
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 42 Kurl, good, excellent. Also, ‘kurl-a-mo’.
1944 Truth (Sydney) 13 Feb. 4/3 Breasley saw Kintore donkey-lick a field of youngsters in the Federal Stakes, and had salt rubbed into his wound when the Lewis cuddy Valour curled the mo in the Bond Handicap.
1945 S. J. Baker Austral. Lang. vi. 126 Curl-the-mo was apparently first used to denote the self-satisfaction of a man who twirled the ends of his flowing moustache. It was then applied to anything meriting approval, was shortened to curl... A popular song ‘Curl-the-Mo, Uncle Joe’—written in praise of Joseph Stalin, who has a large moustache.
1953 S. J. Baker Austral. Speaks iv. 97 There is not infrequent mention in the sporting columns of newspapers of curl the mo mazuma..a way of saying a lot of money.
1963 Sunday Mirror (Sydney) 20 Jan. 43/2 Gili, with Mulley apparently ‘curling the mo’ was possied behind them for his challenge.
1969 Coast to Coast 1967–8 86 He..lifts one of the brimming pilsener glasses: ‘Come an' get it! It's curl-a-mo chico. Lead in the old pencil.’
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > beautify (the hair) [verb (transitive)] > curl > furnish with ringlets
curl1590
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. v. sig. E4 His [sc. Cerberus'] three deformed heads..Curled with thousand adders.
1633 G. Herbert Jordan in Temple i Curling with metaphors a plain intention.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 560 The snakie locks That curld Megæra. View more context for this quotation
3.
a. To bend, twist, or coil up into a spiral or incurved shape; to make curls or undulations upon (a surface); to ripple (water). Often with up.
ΘΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > types of curvature > [verb (transitive)] > curl
crispc1340
curl1562
crimp1708
quirl1840
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > movement of waves > [verb (transitive)] > cause to ripple
curl1716
ripple1839
1562 W. Turner Bk. Natures Bathes Eng. f. 11, in 2nd Pt. Herball Vntill the sicke man perceyue the endes of his fingers to be kurled or wrinkled.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (2nd issue) iii. i. 23 The winds, Who take the ruffian pillowes by the top, Curling their monstrous heads. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 517 So varied hee [sc. the serpent], and of his tortuous Traine Curld many a wanton wreath. View more context for this quotation
1716 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad II. vii. 72 Soft Zephyr curling the wide wat'ry Plain.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iii. xxviii. 117 The morning breeze the lake had curl'd.
1818 Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 38 1016 Those leaves have been sometimes curled by a vitriolic preparation, and coloured for Green tea with verdigrise.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. iii. 46 Jack [the dog]..curled himself up on the sofa.
b. to curl the lip: to bend or raise the upper lip slightly on one side, as an expression of contempt or scorn.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > think or behave contemptuously [verb (intransitive)] > express contempt by facial expression
snurtc1440
to look askew1538
scance1611
to fall a lip of contempta1616
flurn1656
sneer1734
to curl the lip1816
snigger1823
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality xii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 299 His lip was now compressed..now curled slightly upward.
1847 G. P. R. James John Marston Hall viii A bitter smile curled the lip of the President.
II. intransitive.† 6. To twist about, writhe. Obsolete.
4. Of hair: To form curls or ringlets. In colloquial use: cf. sense 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being horrible > horrify [verb (transitive)]
agrisec1225
uga1250
freeze1398
curl1530
abhor1531
to chill the (also a person's) blood1637
horror1642
horrorize1820
horrify1822
behorror1857
to curl (a person's) hair1949
the world > life > the body > hair > types of hair > [verb (intransitive)] > curly
curl1530
inanulate1592
frizzle1607
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 504/2 Se howe his heare curleth nowe that it is newe wasshed.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 74 It is the heat of the Sun that burns the skin, and makes the haire curle.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 77 His flaxen hair..Curled closely round his bonnet blue.
1842 J. Bischoff Comprehensive Hist. Woollen Manuf. II. 301 The finer the fleece naturally is, the more readily it curls.
1887 W. S. Gilbert Ruddigore i. 16 When he's excited he uses language that would make your hair curl.
1890 Monthly Packet Christmas no., 118 I'll choose a place that will make your hair curl to think of.
1963 V. Gielgud Goggle-box Affair iii. 31 The amount of overtime she and Miss Plain worked..would have made the T.U.C.'s hair curl.
5.
a. To take a spiral or incurved form or posture.
ΘΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > types of curvature > [verb (intransitive)] > curl
locker?c1475
crisp1583
to roll up1658
curl1694
coffer1725
scroll1868
frizzle1886
quirl1944
1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 32 In stormy Weather little Waves curl on the top of the great ones.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 60 When yielded, she lay curling in thy Arms.
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) IV. 33 Leaves..brownish green, curling when dry.
1861 J. G. Holland Lessons in Life iii. 40 Cat and kittens will..curl up in some dark corner.
1875 C. Darwin Insectivorous Plants ix. 218 The tentacles began to curl inwards.
b. Of the lip: cf. 3b.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > think or behave contemptuously [verb (intransitive)] > express contempt by facial expression > curl (of the lip)
curl1813
1813 W. Scott Rokeby i. viii. 12 The full-drawn lip that upward curled.
1837 E. Bulwer-Lytton Ernest Maltravers I. ii. ii. 190 Ernest's lip curled slightly, for his pride was touched.
c. Of potatoes: To become affected with curl: see curl n. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > be diseased, injured, or discoloured [verb (intransitive)]
burn?1523
blast1580
slaya1642
smut1657
fire1693
mowburn1707
go1735
strike1742
curl1793
gum1794
sunburn1833
French1836
rust1839
shank1848
houseburn1850
1793 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 4 97 A very fine table Potatoe that never curls.
d. to curl up (Sporting): to give up as dead-beat, to collapse.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (intransitive)] > give up
to curl up1891
1891 Daily News 12 June 3/2 At the half-distance Le Nord looked like winning easily; but he curled up in the last few strides.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 15 Mar. 3/1 The latter college rather ‘curled up’, as the phrase goes, when once their opponents got the lead.
e. figurative. To shrink or writhe with horror, shame, etc.; esp. const. up.
ΘΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > be ashamed [verb (intransitive)]
to have shamec888
forshamec897
(it) shames mec897
shamec897
ashamec1000
to think shamec1450
to take shame to (unto, upon) oneself1509
blush1530
curl1913
the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > cower or flinch
wondec897
shuna1000
blencha1250
cowerc1300
scunnerc1425
cringea1525
to play couch-quaila1529
quail1544
winch1605
dwindle1612
blank1642
shy1650
scringec1700
funk?1746
flinch1883
curl1913
1913 J. Galsworthy Fugitive iii. i It's..feeling people..dislike your being there... I curl up all the time.
1923 E. Wallace Captains of Souls xlv. 248 So it got you, huh? I couldn't understand how a fellow like you could see it without curling up!
1940 P. G. Wodehouse Quick Service i. 14 I'm going to call at his office and look him in the eye..and watch him curl up at the edges.
1960 Sunday Times 22 May 17/6 He cheerfully admits to things which would make a good New Statesman-ite curl at the edges.
1967 S. Knight Window on Shanghai xii. 57 When I think what some parts of Shanghai must have been like before liberation, it makes me curl up!
f. Const. up. To lie or sit with the knees drawn up comfortably; to settle down to sleep in this way.
ΘΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > act of drawing body into compact form > drawn into compact form [verb (intransitive)]
shrinkc1000
forcrempa1250
squinch1843
scrinch1870
scrunch1884
square1897
scrouge1905
curl1910
1910 R. Brooke in Gownsman 14 Oct. 9/2 Curled up like some crumpled, lonely flower-petal.
1935 J. Steinbeck Tortilla Flat xiv. 238 Most of the time Big Joe simply curled up like a dog, and slept in his clothes.
1964 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 15 Jan. (1970) 50 Next followed a little time to curl up in front of the fire in my bedroom and talk to Luci.
1967 O. Wynd Walk Softly i. 1 It was my plan to take a sleeping pill and curl up.
1986 P. Barker Century's Daughter xiv. 224 She was curled up on the floor, so intent on the book she didn't hear Liza come in.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > writhing or twisting movement > writhe or twist [verb (intransitive)]
wendOE
throwOE
to-writhec1000
windc1000
wrenchc1050
writhec1300
wrenka1400
wrestle?a1400
chervec1440
wring1470
wrele1513
wriggle1573
wrincha1625
curla1637
twingle1647
twine1666
twirl1706
retort1720
a1637 B. Jonson Fall of Mortimer i. i. 23 in Wks. (1640) III The very thinking it Would make..some politique Tradesman Curle with the Caution of a Constable!
1664 Floddan Field iii. 27 A Cock curling as he would crow.
7. To move in spiral convolutions or undulations.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement in circle or curve > move in a circle or curve [verb (intransitive)] > move in spirals
pirl1538
spire1607
curl1791
whorl1805
coil1816
spiral1835
spiralize1851
corkscrew1853
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. iv. 133 The damp vapours curled round him.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 208 Brooks curl o'er their sandy bed.
1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin Narr. Surv. Voy. H.M.S. Adventure & Beagle III. xvi. 362 Volumes of smoke were curling upwards.
8. Scottish. To play at curling n.1
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > curling > curl [verb (intransitive)]
curl1715
1715 A. Pennecuik Curious Coll. Scotish Poems in Geogr., Hist. Descr. Tweeddale App. 59 To Curle on the Ice, does greatly please, Being a Manly Scotish Exercise.
1893 N.E.D. at Curl Mod. A piece of water on which they curl in winter.
9. Cricket.
a. intransitive. Of the ball: to turn in after pitching; also, to turn in its flight before pitching.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > bowl [verb (intransitive)] > motion of ball
to make haste?a1475
twist?1801
cut1816
shoot1816
curl1833
hang1838
work1838
break1847
spin1851
turn1851
bump1856
bite1867
pop1871
swerve1894
to kick up1895
nip1899
swing1900
google1907
move1938
seam1960
to play (hit, etc.) across the line1961
1833 J. Nyren Young Cricketer's Tutor 69 Delivering his ball straight to the wicket, it curled in, and missed the Duke's leg-stump by a hair's breadth.
1888 R. H. Lyttelton in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) ii. 54 Apart from breaking or curling, the ball may shoot or bump.
1900 P. F. Warner Cricket in Many Climes 83 He makes the ball curl in the air.
1904 Westm. Gaz. 21 May 3/1 When he first came to England,..he had that ‘curl-in-the-air ball’ to a very marked degree.
b. transitive. Of the bowler: to cause (the ball) to curve in the air.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > bowl [verb (transitive)] > bowl in specific manner
twist1816
overthrow1833
to bowl over the wicket1851
overpitch1851
bump1869
york1882
to break a ball1884
flog1884
to bowl round (or formerly outside) the wicket1887
turn1898
flick1902
curl1904
spin1904
volley1909
flight1912
to give (a ball) air1920
tweak1935
move1938
overspin1940
swing1948
bounce1960
cut1960
seam1963
dolly1985
1904 Westm. Gaz. 21 May 3/1 Trott shone as a baseball player, and it is to this that he owed his power of curling a ball.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† curlv.2
Obsolete. rare.
intransitive. To purr, as a cat.
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the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [verb (intransitive)] > purr
whurl1530
curl?1533
purr1620
purla1641
thruma1810
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Hiii v To curle as a catte, gruler.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.1591v.11447
v.2?1533