harl

1 of 5

verb

variants or harle

ˈ(h)ärl,

ˈ(h)ȧl

-ed/-ing/-s

transitive verb

1

dialectal, British : to drag, scrape, or pull (an object) usually along the ground

2

chiefly Scottish : to plaster (a surface) with roughcast

the harled walls with which for many generations the Scots had finished their houses

—Ian Finlay

intransitive verb

chiefly British : to troll for fish

harling for spring salmon

—Atlantic

harl

2 of 5

noun (1)

variants or harle

ˈhȧl

plural -s

British

: roughcast wall facing

harl

3 of 5

transitive verb

ˈ(h)ärl,

ˈ(h)ȧl

-ed/-ing/-s

dialectal, England

1

: to snarl up : entangle

2

or harle : to thread one leg of (a dead rabbit) through the other for ease in carrying

harl

4 of 5

noun (2)

"

plural -s

dialectal, England

: a tangled mass : snarl

harl

5 of 5

noun (3)

ˈhärl

plural -s

1

or harle : a fiber in a stalk of flax or hemp

2

: herl

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English harlen to drag

Transitive verb

Middle English harlen to entangle

Noun (3)

Middle English herle, probably from Middle Low German herle, harle

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