A barb or fiber from the wing or tail feather of a bird, especially used in making fishing flies and artificial lures.
From Middle Low German 'herle' or possibly related to Old Norse words for hair or thread. Used in fishing terminology since at least the 16th century.
Fly fishermen are incredibly specific about their materials—herl from different birds creates different effects in the water, and some fly recipes call for herl from specific bird species, showing how traditional crafts preserve detailed knowledge.
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