▪ I. ferrule, n.
(ˈfɛrəl)
Forms: 5 vyrell, 7–8 verrel, -il(l, 7–9 ferrel, -il, (7 ferrell), 8–9 ferule, 8– ferrule, 9 ferrol.
[transformed (as if dim. of L. ferrum) from the older vyroll, verrel, virl, ad. OF. virelle, virol (Fr. virole), med.L. virola:—L. viriola, dim. of viriæ, pl. bracelets.]
1. A ring or cap of metal put round the end of a stick, tube, etc. to strengthen it, or prevent splitting and wearing.
| 1611 Cotgr., Cartibes d'vn moulinet, the ferrels, or bands of yron whereby the ends of a windlesse are strengthened. 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2054/4 A Joynt Cane, wrought with a Gold Head on it, and a Brass Ferril. 1709 F. Hauksbee Phys.-Mech. Exp. v. (1719) 104, I took a fine Glass Tube..The upper Orifice had a Ferrel..cemented on it. 1715 Kersey, Verrel or Verril, a little Brass or Iron ring, at the small end of a Cane, or Handle of a Tool, etc. 1794 W. Felton Carriages (1801) I. 222 The dragstaff..is made of strong ash, with iron ferrules on the ends. 1820 L. Hunt Indicator No. 33 (1822) I. 257 Instead of the brass ferrel poking in the mud. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xxv, Producing a fat green cotton one [umbrella] with a battered ferrule. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 10 The Lance of the Standards and Guidons to be nine feet long (spear and ferrel included). [So in 1860; the word is not used in recent editions.] |
| attrib. 1799 Spirit Pub. Journals (1800) III. 209 Taking especial care that the ferule end..be sufficiently dirty. |
2. a. A ring or band, usually either giving additional strength or holding the parts of anything together.
| 1632 Sherwood, Verrill, or iron band for a woodden toole, virole. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 117. 4/2 Dropt..a Cane..with a Silver Ferril. 1726 Desaguliers in Phil. Trans. XXXIV. 79, I fix'd a Leaden Pipe..of 2 Inches in the Bore, by means of 3 Ferrels, or short Communication-Pipes. 1730 Savery ibid. XXXVI. 298 The Glass Concave was fixed in the great End of a thin Brass Ferule. 1773 Ibid. LXIII. 418, I cover this part of the tube with a brass verrel. 1832 Babbage Econ. Manuf. i. (ed. 3) 10 A glazier's apprentice, when using a diamond set in a conical ferrule. 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. 750 Ferrol, in plumbing, is a brass tube soldered to the lead pipe at one end, and then driven into the main water-pipe. 1855 Holden Hum. Osteol. (1878) 37 A broad and thick ferule of cartilage. 1859 Gullick & Timbs Paint. 296 Flat brushes, in German-silver ferules. 1867 J. Hogg Microsc. i. i. 7 A handle of ebony..is attached by a brass ferrule and two screws. 1904 Goodchild & Tweney Technol. & Sci. Dict. 219/2 Ferrule, a small pulley used for rotating drills, or pieces of work that have to be turned or otherwise operated on. 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 328/2 Ferrule, a slotted metal tube into the ends of which the conductors of a joint are inserted. |
b. (See quot.)
| 1899 C. K. Paul Memories viii. 249 ‘Ferrule of a book’, means the corner. ‘Do you mean that one with the yellow ferrule.’ |
3. (Steam-engine.) ‘A bushing for expanding the end of a flue’ (Webster).
4. The frame of a slate.
| 1847–78 in Halliwell. |
5. Naut.
| 1823 Crabb, Ferrule, a small iron hook fixed on the extremity of the yards, boom, etc. |
▪ II. ferrule, ferrel, v.
(ˈfɛrəl)
Also 5 vyrell, 7– ferrel(l, 8 ferril.
[f. prec.]
trans. To fit or furnish with a ferrule.
| 1496 Bk. St. Albans, Fishing 8 Thenne vyrell the staffe at bothe endes wyth longe hopis of yron. 1670 Narborough Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. (1694) 89 The Staves..were headed and ferrelled with Silver. 1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 196 Wooden Pipes..are ferriled and girdled with Iron. 1787 Best Angling (ed. 2) 10 If you ferrel it [the rod], observe that they [pieces] fit. 1870 Thornbury Old Stories Re-told 247 To ferrule the pikes. |