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A.Word.A.Day--furl

furl (furl) verb

verb tr.

To roll up and secure (a flag or sail, for example) to something else.

verb intr.

To be or become rolled up.

noun

1. The act or an instance of rolling up.

2. A single roll or a rolled section.

[Perhaps from French ferler, from Old French ferlier, to fasten : ferm, firm + lier, to bind (from Latin ligare).]

"Arriving at last at some sheltered cove, we'd furl the sails and drop anchor." Jeremy Clarke, End of Story, Independent on Sunday, Aug 8, 1999.

This week's theme: words better known in their negative forms.

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