curler

Noun

curler (plural curlers)

1. One of a set of small cylindrical tubes used to curl hair.
   • Waiting for a girl who's got curlers in her hair / Waiting for a girl, she has no money anywhere1968, Jagger–Richards, “Factory Girl”, in Beggars Banquet, performed by The Rolling Stones
   • There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs;[…].1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN

   Synonyms:

   hair roller

2. A sportsman who plays curling.
3. A pass or a shot of the ball which swerves.
   • The captain sent a curler into the top corner of the net.
   • Lampard was replaced by Kalou but the substitute immediately gave the ball to Jonas, whose 25-yard curler was tipped wide by Cech.2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport
4. A wave which breaks with a barrel
   • Oft considered the most even playing field on which to measure surf mastery, Slater’s innovative machine is a barrel-synthesizing environment and engineering feat. In a single round, The Wave produces a 6-foot curler capable of traveling 2,300 feet for up to one gnarly minute.2021 August 25, Jilli Cluff, “Kelly Slater’s Artificial Wave Will Crown ‘The Ultimate Surfer’ on Hulu”, in GearJunkie
   • There’s the mesmeric, thrumming beat. (Sound very much “on” for this one.) Dark purples and roiling seas under heavy storms. Then Manuel, barreling perfect curler after perfect curler.2023 March 18, Sam Anderson, “Weekend Warm-Up: Liquid Lines, Entrancing Tunes, Mesmerizing Moments in ‘MALIA’”, in Explorersweb