PURL

n. & v. --n. 1 a knitting stitch made by putting the needle through the front of the previous stitch and passing the yarn round the back of the needle. 2 a cord of twisted gold or silver wire for bordering. 3 a chain of minute loops; a picot. 4 the ornamental edges of lace, ribbon, etc. --v.tr. (also absol.) knit with a purl stitch. [orig. pyrle, pirle f. Sc. pirl twist: the knitting sense may be f. a different word]