harl

English

Etymology

Cognate with Middle Low German herle, Low German harle, East Frisian harrel ‘hemp fibre’.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /hɑːl/

Noun

harl (plural harls)

1. a fibre, especially a fibre of hemp or flax, or an individual fibre of a feather

   • 1974: She pushed her fingers under the cream lace, into the ginger harl of spun glass. — Guy Davenport, Tatlin!

2. A barb, or barbs, of a fine large feather, as of a peacock or ostrich, used in dressing artificial flies.