Profile


From Encyclopedia Britannica (11th edition, 1910)

EncycloReader

Profile, an outline or contour drawing, particularly the drawing of the outline of the human face as seen from the side, or in architecture the contour of a part of a building, of a moulding, &c., as shown by a vertical section. In fortification the " profile " of an earthwork is an outline of a transverse section and gives the relative thickness; so a work is said to be " of strong " or " of weak " profile. The Fr. profil, formerly poofil, pourfil, Ital. profilo, profilo, are formed from Lat. pro, and filare, to draw a line, filum, thread.

The French pourfil also gave English " purfle," to embroider the edge of a fabric with gold or other thread; this was further corrupted to; ` purl," now often wrongly spelt " pearl," an inverted stitch in knitting.