Definitions

1. verb

to roll up or gather together something, especially a sail, tightly.

“The sailor furl the sail to reduce its surface area.”

2. noun

a fold or pleat, especially in a sail.

“The furl in the sail made it harder to maneuver.”

3. verb

to shorten or reduce something, especially a sail.

“The captain ordered the crew to furl the sail and speed up.”

4. noun

a measure of a sail’s surface area, especially as a unit of measurement for a sailmaker.

“The sailmaker calculated the furl of the new sail.”