burl
|burl|
🇺🇸
/bɝl/
🇬🇧
/bɜːl/
rounded knot or knotty wood growth
Etymology
'burl' originates from Middle English 'burle' or 'bourl' (variants), probably related to the word 'burr' referring to a rough protuberance; the exact earlier origin is uncertain.
'burl' changed from Middle English 'burle'/'bourl' and developed into the modern English 'burl', with the sense narrowing to the woody knot and the wood taken from it.
Initially it meant a lump, knob, or rough protuberance in general; over time the meaning narrowed to refer specifically to the characteristic knotty growth on trees and the decorative wood produced from it.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a rounded, knotty growth on the trunk or branch of a tree, often producing a highly figured grain used for decorative woodwork (also called a burr).
The artisan sliced a beautiful veneer from the oak burl.
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Noun 2
a piece of wood taken from such a growth, prized for its attractive, irregular grain and used in veneers, furniture, and decorative items.
They used a walnut burl for the guitar's headstock inlay.
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Last updated: 2025/08/20 18:25