purfle

[prettygoodword]

purfle (PUR-fuhl) - n., a ruffled or curved ornamental band, as on clothing, furniture, etc.; v., to furnish with such a border.


So the inlay around the edge of a violin case is a purfle, as is the frilly edge of certain dresses (which latter is what I usually think of with this word). Adopted as purfilen (as the verb form) around 1300 from Middle French porfiler, to make or adorn a border, from por-/pro- + filer, to spin (from Latin fīlum, thread, the ancestor of filament).

And that wraps up P week -- back on Monday with the usual random mix.

---L.

Comments

[flwyd.livejournal.com]

Such a great word that this is its second appearance: http://prettygoodword.livejournal.com/165045.html

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't be the first repeat. In general, I don't worry about 'em if they're over five years old or so.

---L.