ˈpurfling, vbl. n.
[f. purfle v. + -ing1.]
1. Bordering, esp. the ornamenting of the edge or border of anything; also concr. ornamental bordering work, trimming, furring, fringing, etc.
| 1388 Calverley Charters (1904) 204 Pur j furrure de gray pur mesme la goune oue la perfulyng du mesme et la lynure du chaperon. 1483 Wardr. Acc. in Antiq. Rep. (1807) I. 45 To the furring of every harneys and purfiling of every sadell. ? a 1500 Assembly of Ladies 527 The coller and the vent, Lyk as ermyne is mad in purfeling. 1611 Cotgr., Pourfileure, purfling; a purfling lace or work; baudkin⁓worke; tinselling. 1849 James Woodman iii. xii. 236 Especially where slashings and purffling..are out of symmetry. 1904 Westm. Gaz. 14 May 13/2 Where is the hood and the volupere, Wimple and coif with their purfilings? |
b. Arch. The ornamentation of an edge or ridge: see
purfle v. 3 b.
| 1849 Rock Ch. of Fathers II. 106 A purfling of crockets in silver. |
c. The inlaid bordering or marginal decoration with which the backs and bellies of violins and the like are often finished.
| 1848 J. Bishop tr. Otto's Violin i. note, Some authors mention only two strips for the purfling, in which case the number of pieces would be reduced to 12. 1884 Haweis Musical Life I. 228 The purfling, more or less deeply embedded, emphasizes the outline of the violin. It is composed of three thin strips of wood, ebony, sometimes whalebone, the centre of two white strips. 1892 W. H. C[ummings] in Athenæum 1 Oct. 457/3 A seventeenth century viol di gamba..remarkable for its beautiful ‘purfling’ of ebony and ivory. |
| attrib. 1908 B. Harraden Interplay 265, I noticed how well he used the purfling chisel. |
† d. vaguely. ? Decking, adornment.
Obs.| 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 150 Pritty-fac'd diuell..that infects the heart, With painting, purfling and a face of Art. 1630 ― Eng. Gentlem. (1641) 60 To spend the whole Morne till the Mid-day in tricking, trimming, painting and purfling. |
† 2. Her. A border or contour line.
Obs.| 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry iii. xi. 120 They be not incorporated one with another, but are diuidedly seuered by interposing the purflings. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 148/2 Purfling, Hatching with a Pencill, as Herald Painters finish up their Work. |
† 3. Drawing in outline, outlining.
Cf. profile.
| 1601 Holland Pliny II. 525 As for the Greeke writers,..they all doe jointly agree in this, That the first pourtrait was nothing els but the bare pourfling and drawing onely the shaddow of a person. |