▪ I. ferule, n.
(ˈfɛrjuːl)
Also 6 ferrall, 6–7 ferul(l.
[ad. L. ferul-a: see ferula.]
1. = ferula 1. Also a plant or stalk of it.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 1049 Take ferules eke or saly twigges take. 1589 Fleming Bucol. Virg. x. 30 Syluanus..came..Shaking his flouring feruls. 1620 Brinsley Virg. Eclog. 95 The ferule is a..big herbe like vnto fennel giant. |
2. = ferula 2.
| 1599 Bp. Hall Sat. iv. i. 169 My rimes relish of the ferule still. 1636 B. Jonson Discov. (1641) 115 From the rodde, or ferule, I would have them free. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 304 Whilst he was under the ferule. 1825 Hone Every-day Bk. I. 967 The ferule..was a sort of flat ruler, widened at the inflicting end into a shape resembling a pear..with a..hole in the middle, to raise blisters. 1850 W. Irving Goldsmith i. 23 He resumed the ferule. 1875 Farrar Seekers i. ii. 24 To learn at the point of the ferule—trash. |
3. attrib. and Comb., as † ferule-rod; † ferule-fingered a., whose fingers are liable to the ferule.
| 1528 Impeachm. Wolsey 192 in Furnivall Ball. I. 358 Be ware of the Ferrall Rodde! 1620 Bp. Hall Hon. Mar. Clergy 127 Those ancient ferule-fingred Boy-Popes. |
▪ II. ferule
var. of ferrule n. and v.
▪ III. ferule, v.
(ˈfɛrjuːl)
Also 6 ferrule.
[f. prec.]
trans. To beat, strike, with a ferule.
| 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 24, I shoulde..bee Ferruled for my faulte. 1873 Channing in Salt Thoreau (1890) 26 So he did..by feruling six of his pupils. 1878 Mrs. Stowe Poganuc P. xiv. 121 To ferule..disorderly scholars. |