purfle
verb
pur·fle ˈpər-fəl 
purfled; purfling ˈpər-f(ə-)liŋ
transitive verb
: to ornament the border or edges of
purfle noun
Did you know?
Today we use "purfle" mostly in reference to setting a decorative inlaid border around the body of a guitar or violin, a process known as "purfling." In the past, "purfle" got the most use in connection with adornment of garments. "The Bishop of Ely . . . wore a robe of scarlet . . . purfled with minever," reported an English clergyman in 1840, for example. We embellished our language with "purfle," first as "purfilen" in the 1300s, when we took it with its meaning from Middle French porfiler.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English purfilen, from purfil embroidered border, from Anglo-French, from pur for, in place of (from Latin pro-) + fil thread, yarn — more at pro-, file
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above