furl

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to roll or fold a sail, flag, or similar sheet and secure it

   The crew will furl the sail before the storm arrives.

Probably from French ferler, ‘to furl a sail,’ whose earlier history is uncertain; it may have been influenced by words meaning ‘fasten’ or ‘bind.’ The English verb is recorded from the late 16th century.

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