birl
UK /bɜːl/ · US /bɝl/ verb, noun
Also a form of birle
Forms birls birling birled
- verb (ambitransitive, Scotland) To spin.
- verb (transitive) To cause (a floating log) to rotate by treading on it.
- verb (transitive) To throw down a coin as one's share in a joint contribution.
- noun (music, bagpipes) A type of grace note movement that quickly switches between low-A and low-G several times, producing a low rippling sound.
- noun (Internet slang, LGBTQ) A girl of boyish appearance.
Synonyms
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English birlen.
Blend of boy + girl.
See birle.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To revolve or cause to revolve; to spin. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
- verb To pour (beer or wine); to ply with drink; to drink; to carouse. [Obs. or Dial.] Skelton.
Etymology [AS. byrlian. Defn: To pour (beer or wine); to ply with drink; to drink; to carouse. [Obs. or Dial.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “birl”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details