Also 4 follen, fulle(n. [f. FULL a.
OE. had fullian to fulfil (Cædmon’s Gen., 2317), but continuity is doubtful; in the early ME. fullen the u prob. represents ü, so that the examples belong to FILL v.]
† 1. trans. To make full. Cf. FILL v. 1. Obs.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 184. In couenant that Clement schulde the cuppe fulle.
a. 1400. Prymer (1891), 39. Thanne is oure mouth fulled of joye.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop (1889), 72. He was … fulled with sorowe.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. lxxxvii. 270. Surely travail fulleth the man.
b. intr. To be or become full. Const. of. Obs. exc. dial. and in U.S. of the moon.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 44. Thei … demeth god in-to the gorge whon heore gottus follen.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 343. Myn heed dullyth Myn herte ffullyth Of sslepp.
1864. Webster, The moon fulls at midnight.
Mod. Suffolk dial. (F. Hall) ‘The moon will full to-night.’
† 2. trans. To fulfil, complete. Obs.
1380. [see FULLING vbl. sb.].
1492. Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 247/1. Þe saidis persons sall mak na payment of the said soume quhill the poyntis of þe said decrett be fullit efter the forme of þe samyn.
1640. Brome, Antipodes, III. viii. Wks. 1873, III. 290. Before he has given her satisfaction I may not full my suit.
3. Dressmaking. To make full; to gather or pleat. Also with on.
1831. Westm. Rev., XIV. 424. The milliner with her fulling, and quilling, and puckering, come[s] in to supply the retiring graces of nature.
1832. E. Ind. Sketch Bk., I. 261. A petticoat fulled and stiffened into the dignified rotundity of a hoop, and flounced over two-thirds of its longitude.
1884. West. Daily Press, 2 June, 7/2. Plastrons … are composed of a straight piece, fulled into a small band at the top.
1890. Daily News, 4 Dec., 3/4. Many pretty little jackets … are composed of black lace fulled on over a foundation of silk or gold gauze.
b. intr. To draw up, pucker, bunch.
1889. Century Dict., The skirt fulls too much in front.
Hence Fulled ppl. a., gathered or pleated; arranged in folds; Fulling vbl. sb., the action of the vb.; † a. the action of fulfilling; b. the action of gathering or pleating; in quots. concr.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., 257. Her matere schulde be truþe and fullynge of Goddis lawe.
1760. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr., Ser. II. III. App. 504. The apron was to wear over a hoop, consequently there was very little fulling, but the whole design was to be seen without many folds.
1877. Blackmore, Cripps, I. ii. 24. She gathered in the skirt of her frock and the fulling of her cloak.
1892. Daily News, 16 Feb., 6/5. Coats … finished off at the neck with a fulled shoulder cape.
