DictionaryfullThickening cloth
verb

full

To thicken cloth by shrinking and beating it.

Workers full the woolen cloth to make it denser.

Etymology

The verb belongs to the traditional craft of cleaning and working woolen cloth. Fulling thickens and consolidates the material through moisture, pressure, and agitation; it is distinct from full meaning filled.

More examples

  • The mill fulled the fabric.
  • Fulling shrinks and thickens the cloth.
  • They full the woven material before finishing it.

Forms

full · fulls · fulled · fulling