The story
Unclear. Some sources connect it to French pour la queue, from English pirl, purl (“whirl, twirl”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
purlicue
Today it means: The space between one's forefinger and thumb. Full definition →
Today it means: The space between one's forefinger and thumb. Full definition →
Unclear. Some sources connect it to French pour la queue, from English pirl, purl (“whirl, twirl”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.