from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Curl \Curl\ (k[^u]rl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Curled} (k[^u]rld);
p. pr. & vb. n. {Curling}.] [Akin to D. krullen, Dan.
kr["o]lle, dial. Sw. krulla to curl, crisp; possibly akin to
E. crook. Cf. {Curl}, n., {Cruller}.]
1. To twist or form into ringlets; to crisp, as the hair.
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But curl their locks with bodkins and with braid.
--Cascoigne.
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2. To twist or make onto coils, as a serpent's body.
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Of his tortuous train,
Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve.
--Milton.
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3. To deck with, or as with, curls; to ornament.
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Thicker than the snaky locks
That curledMeg[ae]ra. --Milton.
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Curling with metaphors a plain intention. --Herbert.
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4. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.
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Seas would be pools without the brushing air
To curl the waves. --Dryden.
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5. (Hat Making) To shape (the brim) into a curve.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Curling \Curl"ing\, n.
1. The act or state of that which curls; as, the curling of
smoke when it rises; the curling of a ringlet; also, the
act or process of one who curls something, as hair, or the
brim of hats.
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2. A scottish game in which heavy weights of stone or iron
are propelled by hand over the ice towards a mark.
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Curling . . . is an amusement of the winter, and
played on the ice, by sliding from one mark to
another great stones of 40 to 70 pounds weight, of a
hemispherical form, with an iron or wooden handle at
top. The object of the player is to lay his stone as
near to the mark as possible, to guard that of his
partner, which has been well laid before, or to
strike off that of his antagonist. --Pennant
(Tour in
Scotland.
1772).
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{Curling irons}, {Curling tong}, an instrument for curling
the hair; -- commonly heated when used. Called also
{curler[4]}.
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