Also 6 byrling. [f. BURL v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The dressing of cloth, esp. by removing knots.
1530. Palsgr., 198/2. Byrling of clothe, pinsure.
1552. Act 5 & 6 Edw. VI., xxii. Mills called Gig-Mills, for the perching and burling of Cloth.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 569. They fall anone to burling of it with Cimolia.
1836. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 187. Burling is … a process, in which the dried cloth is examined minutely in every part, freed from knots or uneven threads, and repaired by sewing any little rents.
† b. (contemptuously.)
1548. Hooper, Commandm., x. Wks. (1843–52), 377. Other sort … are a-dilling and burling of their hair.
2. attrib., as in burling-comb, -machine; also burling-iron, a pair of tweezers or small pincers for extracting the knots from wool.
1530. Palsgr., 198/2. Byrlyng yron, unes espinces.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1231. He … all to beclawed and mangled him with tuckers cards, and burling combs.
1648. Herrick, Hesp., To Painter. Then for an easie fansie, place A burling iron for his face.
1730–6. Bailey, Burling-iron, a Sort of Pinchers or Nippers for that Use.
3. concr. See quot., and cf. BURL v.1 2.
1847–78. Halliwell, Burlings, pieces of dirty wool.
