harl

A farmer uses a harl to smooth the wet plaster on the wall.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A fibre or filament: In Scottish usage, "harl" refers to a strand of hair or a fibre, especially from the feathers of a bird.
   • A layer of mortar and pebbles: In construction, "harl" is a rough-cast coating for walls, made by mixing lime with small stones or gravel.

2. Verb:

   • To drag along the ground: In Scottish dialect, "harl" means to pull or drag something heavily across a surface.
   • To apply a rough-cast finish: In building, "to harl" is to cover a wall with a mixture of lime and small stones for weatherproofing.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The bird's feathers were tangled, with a single harl sticking out. (A single fibre or strand of feather.)
  • The old cottage had a traditional harl on its exterior walls. (A rough-cast coating of lime and stones.)

• Verb:

  • He had to harl the heavy sack across the field. (Drag it along the ground.)
  • The mason will harl the new wall next week. (Apply a rough-cast finish.)

Advanced Usage

• "to harl a wall": a specific technical term in Scottish building.
  • They hired a specialist to harl the stone wall with lime and gravel. (Apply a protective rough-cast layer.)

Variants and Related Words

• Harle (n): an alternative spelling of "harl", meaning a fibre or filament.

  • The harle of the feather was delicate and fine. (The fibre of the feather.)

• Herl (n): a variant spelling, referring to a strand of feather used in fishing flies.

  • The fly tier used a herl from a peacock feather. (A single strand of feather.)

Synonyms

• Fibre: a thread-like strand.
• Filament: a fine thread or fibre.
• Drag: to pull something along the ground.

Phrasal Verbs

• Harl up: to drag something upwards with effort.
  • They had to harl up the timber to the top of the hill. (Drag it upward.)

Related Idioms