curler

curl +‎ -er

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɜː(ɹ)lə(ɹ)/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

curler (plural curlers)

1. One of a set of small cylindrical tubes used to curl hair.

   Synonym: hair roller

   • 1968, Jagger–Richards (lyrics and music), “Factory Girl”, in Beggars Banquet, performed by The Rolling Stones:

     Waiting for a girl who's got curlers in her hair / Waiting for a girl, she has no money anywhere

   • 1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:

     There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs; […].

2. A sportsman who plays curling.
3. (soccer) A pass or a shot of the ball which swerves.

   The captain sent a curler into the top corner of the net.

   • 2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:

     Lampard was replaced by Kalou but the substitute immediately gave the ball to Jonas, whose 25-yard curler was tipped wide by Cech.

   • 2024 February 4, David Hytner, “Arsenal ignite title hopes as Gabriel Martinelli punishes Liverpool error”, in The Guardian‎:

     Liverpool were energised at the start of the second half, with ­Curtis Jones shaping a curler just past the far post.

4. (surfing) A wave which breaks with a barrel
   • 2021 August 25, Jilli Cluff, “Kelly Slater’s Artificial Wave Will Crown ‘The Ultimate Surfer’ on Hulu”, in GearJunkie‎:

     Oft considered the most even playing field on which to measure surf mastery, Slater’s innovative machine is a barrel-synthesizing environment and engineering feat. In a single round, The Wave produces a 6-foot curler capable of traveling 2,300 feet for up to one gnarly minute.

   • 2023 March 18, Sam Anderson, “Weekend Warm-Up: Liquid Lines, Entrancing Tunes, Mesmerizing Moments in ‘MALIA’”, in Explorersweb‎:

     There’s the mesmeric, thrumming beat. (Sound very much “on” for this one.) Dark purples and roiling seas under heavy storms. Then Manuel, barreling perfect curler after perfect curler.

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