The word "purled" is pronounced /pɜːld/ and is spelled with the letters "p-u-r-l-e-d". The initial "p" is pronounced with a puff of breath and the "u" is pronounced as "er" in "her". The "r" is pronounced with a rolled tongue and the "l" is pronounced with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth behind the teeth. The final "d" is pronounced with a voiced sound made by vibrating the vocal cords. "Purled" is the past tense of the verb "purl", which means to knit with a twisted stitch.
The term "purled" refers to the past tense and past participle form of the verb "purl." "Purl" can be defined as the action of creating a decorative stitch in knitting or crochet work by bringing the yarn forward, or resting it in front of the work, before knitting the next stitch. This technique results in a raised loop on the face of the fabric, adding texture and visual interest.
In knitting, when one "purls," the working yarn is held in front of the work, and the right needle is inserted into the stitch from right to left. The yarn is then wrapped around the right needle and pulled through the stitch, creating a new stitch and transferring it from the left needle to the right. This process is repeated throughout the row or round to create a pattern, typically alternated with knitting stitches to form various designs. When the action of purling is complete, the yarn is often brought to the back of the work before knitting the next stitch.
The term "purled" can also be used more broadly to refer to any sort of twisted or curled form or shape. It can describe the appearance of hair or threads that have been twisted or curled tightly. Additionally, "purled" can be used to describe a type of edge or finishing technique in knitting, where the stitches are intentionally twisted or curled to create a decorative border.
The word "purled" is the past participle form of the verb "purl". The etymology of "purl" can be traced back to Middle English and Old French.
In Middle English, the word "purlen" meant "to whirl", "to swirl", or "to twist". It came from the Old French word "porloier", which had a similar meaning of "to whirl" or "to turn".
Both the Middle English and Old French words have uncertain origins, but it is believed that they may be derived from an onomatopoeic or imitative source, imitating the sound or movement of something spinning or whirling.
Over time, the meaning of "purl" evolved in English, and by the 16th century, it came to refer specifically to a knitting technique where a stitch is twisted in a certain way to create a decorative pattern.