I. ˈfərl, esp before pause or consonant ˈfər.əl; ˈfə̄l, ˈfəil verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English ferler, from Old North French ferlier to tie tightly, from Old French fer, ferm tight, fast (from Latin firmus firm) + lier to tie (from Latin ligare ) — more at firm , ligature
transitive verb
1.
a. : to roll up or gather in (a sail) and fasten close to a yard or mast
b. : to draw in (a flag) and secure to a staff
c. : to roll up as if furling a sail or a flag
he was supposed to furl the side flaps in the morning and let them down at night — Norman Mailer
2. : to draw into ripples or folds : curl , wrinkle
it shrivels behind furled leaves — Clive Arden
3. : cover , wrap , enfold
the peacock … was itself furled into the night and the blackness closed in on them again — Rebecca West
intransitive verb
1. : to curl or fold spirally
she looked at the trees and at the furling blooms of the iris — Millen Brand
2. : to roll away
years of misery and sin furl off and leave her heaven blue — J.R.Lowell
II. noun
( -s )
: the act of furling or state of being furled : something that is furled