kə:l v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by up) bend or coil
into a
spiral;
form or
cause to form curls. 2 intr.
move in a spiral form (smoke
curling upwards). 3 a intr. (of
the upper lip) be raised slightly on
one side as an
expression of
contempt or disapproval. b tr. cause (the lip) to do
this. 4 intr.
play curling. --n. 1 a
lock of curled
hair. 2
anything spiral or curved
inwards. 3 a a curling
movement or
act. b the
state of
being curled. 4 a
disease of plants in
which the
leaves are curled
up. øcurl up 1 lie or
sit with the knees
drawn up. 2 colloq.
writhe with embarrassment or
horror.
make a person's hair curl colloq. shock or
horrify a
person.
out of curl
lacking energy. [ME; earliest form crolled, crulled f. obs. adj. crolle, crulle
curly f. MDu. krul]