To full when used in reference to textiles is to cause the fibers in a piece of already constructed fabric to felt together. ''To felt'' is often used instead, but felting refers to loose fibers whereas fulling refers to something which was previously knitted, woven, etc.

Animal hair and wool generally felts/fulls best. It is done by shocking moist or wet strands with sharp temperature changes, agitation, and often acidity or caustic substances (sometimes in the form of soap, which Swap reminds me is not acidic in and of itself). This causes the scales on the strands to interlock, creating a dense mat. This can easily be done on purpose or by accident in a home washer/dryer.

Fulling is often done to make dense, shaped, waterproof garments, such as hats, slippers, mittens, and jackets.

Full (?), a. [Compar. Fuller (?); superl. Fullest.] [OE. & AS. ful; akin to OS. ful, D. vol, OHG. fol, G. voll, Icel. fullr, Sw. full, Dan. fuld, Goth. fulls, L. plenus, Gr. , Skr. prna full, pr to fill, also to Gr. much, E. poly-, pref., G. viel, AS. fela. √80. Cf. Complete, Fill, Plenary, Plenty.]

1.

Filled up, having within its limits all that it can contain; supplied; not empty or vacant; -- said primarily of hollow vessels, and hence of anything else; as, a cup full of water; a house full of people.

Had the throne been full, their meeting would not have been regular. Blackstone.

2.

Abundantly furnished or provided; sufficient in. quantity, quality, or degree; copious; plenteous; ample; adequate; as, a full meal; a full supply; a full voice; a full compensation; a house full of furniture.

3.

Not wanting in any essential quality; complete, entire; perfect; adequate; as, a full narrative; a person of full age; a full stop; a full face; the full moon.

It came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed. Gen. xii. 1.

The man commands Like a full soldier. Shak.

I can not Request a fuller satisfaction Than you have freely granted. Ford.

4.

Sated; surfeited.

I am full of the burnt offerings of rams. Is. i. 11.

5.

Having the mind filled with ideas; stocked with knowledge; stored with information.

Reading maketh a full man. Bacon.

6.

Having the attention, thoughts, etc., absorbed in any matter, and the feelings more or less excited by it, as, to be full of some project.

Every one is full of the miracles done by cold baths on decayed and weak constitutions. Locke.

7.

Filled with emotions.

The heart is so full that a drop overfills it. Lowell.

8.

Impregnated; made pregnant.

[Obs.]

Ilia, the fair, . . . full of Mars. Dryden.

At full, when full or complete. Shak. -- Full age Law the age at which one attains full personal rights; majority; -- in England and the United States the age of 21 years. Abbott. -- Full and by Naut., sailing closehauled, having all the sails full, and lying as near the wind as poesible. -- Full band Mus., a band in which all the instruments are employed. -- Full binding, the binding of a book when made wholly of leather, as distinguished from half binding. -- Full bottom, a kind of wig full and large at the bottom. -- Full brother ∨ sister, a brother or sister having the same parents as another. -- Full cry Hunting, eager chase; -- said of hounds that have caught the scent, and give tongue together. -- Full dress, the dress prescribed by authority or by etiquette to be worn on occasions of ceremony. -- Full hand Poker, three of a kind and a pair. -- Full moon. (a) The moon with its whole disk illuminated, as when opposite to the sun. (b) The time when the moon is full. -- Full organ Mus., the organ when all or most stops are out. -- Full score Mus., a score in which all the parts for voices and instruments are given. -- Full sea, high water. -- Full swing, free course; unrestrained liberty; "Leaving corrupt nature to . . . the full swing and freedom of its own extravagant actings." South (Colloq.) -- In full, at length; uncontracted; unabridged; written out in words, and not indicated by figures. -- In full blast. See under Blast.

 

© Webster 1913.


Full (?), n.

Complete measure; utmost extent; the highest state or degree.

The swan's-down feather, That stands upon the swell at full of tide. Shak.

Full of the moon, the time of full moon.

 

© Webster 1913.


Full, adv.

Quite; to the same degree; without abatement or diminution; with the whole force or effect; thoroughly; completely; exactly; entirely.

The pawn I proffer shall be full as good. Dryden.

The diapason closing full in man. Dryden.

Full in the center of the sacred wood. Addison.

⇒ Full is placed before adjectives and adverbs to heighten or strengthen their signification. "Full sad." Milton. "Master of a full poor cell." Shak. "Full many a gem of purest ray serene." T. Gray.

Full is also prefixed to participles to express utmost extent or degree; as, full-bloomed, full-blown, full-crammed full-grown, full-laden, full-stuffed, etc. Such compounds, for the most part, are self-defining.

 

© Webster 1913.


Full, v. i.

To become full or wholly illuminated; as, the moon fulls at midnight.

 

© Webster 1913.


Full, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fulled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fulling.] [OE. fullen, OF. fuler, fouler, F. fouler, LL. fullare, fr. L. fullo fuller, cloth fuller, cf. Gr. shining, white, AS. fullian to whiten as a fuller, to baptize, fullere a fuller. Cf. Defile to foul, Foil to frustrate, Fuller. n. ]

To thicken by moistening, heating, and pressing, as cloth; to mill; to make compact; to scour, cleanse, and thicken in a mill.

 

© Webster 1913.


Full, v. i.

To become fulled or thickened; as, this material fulls well.

 

© Webster 1913.

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