noun
Uncommon
fuller
FUU-luh
Fuller (noun) means someone whose trade is fulling — cleaning and thickening cloth by soaking and beating it.
noun
1
Someone whose trade is fulling — cleaning and thickening cloth by soaking and beating it.
"Medieval fullers used stale urine to help clean the wool."
"The fuller worked at the river, beating wet cloth until it thickened."
"In the museum, a display shows how a fuller prepared woollen cloth."
2
A blacksmith's tool used to shape a groove into hot metal, or the groove itself.
"The bladesmith used a fuller to cut the central groove into the sword."
"He tapped the fuller with a hammer to press a groove into the hot blade."
"The knife's fuller runs along its spine and makes the blade lighter."
How to use fuller
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old trade word for a cloth-worker, and separately a blacksmithing tool and the groove it makes.
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Word forms
- Plural
- fullers
- Third person singular
- fullers
- Past tense
- fullered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ worked at the river, beating wet cloth until it thickened.
Etymology
From Old English fullere, from Latin fullo ("one who fulls cloth").
Rhymes for fuller
See all rhymes for fuller →Frequently asked questions
What does “fuller” mean?
The word “fuller” means someone whose trade is fulling — cleaning and thickening cloth by soaking and beating it. In plain terms, an old trade word for a cloth-worker, and separately a blacksmithing tool and the groove it makes.
How do you pronounce “fuller”?
“Fuller” is pronounced FUU-luh (/ˈfʊ.ləɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fuller” in a sentence?
Here is “fuller” used in a sentence: “The bladesmith used a fuller to cut the central groove into the sword.”
What part of speech is “fuller”?
“Fuller” is a noun.
Where does the word “fuller” come from?
The word “fuller” comes from Latin. From Old English fullere, from Latin fullo ("one who fulls cloth").
Is “fuller” a common word?
“Fuller” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fuller” have?
“Fuller” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone whose trade is fulling — cleaning and thickening cloth by soaking and beating it.
What is a fuller in blacksmithing?
In blacksmithing, a fuller is a tool used to shape a groove into hot metal by hammering, and the resulting groove itself is also called a fuller. It is commonly used to spread and shape metal during forging, including on some sword and knife blades.
What did a fuller do as a historical trade?
A fuller was someone whose trade was fulling, the process of cleaning and thickening woven cloth by soaking and beating it. This process removed oils, dirt, and other impurities and helped compact the fibers, and the trade gave rise to the common surname Fuller.
Why is fuller sometimes seen as a surname?
Fuller became a common English surname because it was originally an occupational name for someone who worked as a fuller, cleaning and finishing cloth. Many English surnames derive from medieval trades in this way.
