skirl
UK /skɜːl/ · US /skɜɹl/ verb, noun
Forms skirls skirling skirled
- verb (Scotland, Northern England) To make a shrill sound, as of bagpipes.
- noun (Scotland, Northern England) A shrill sound, as of bagpipes.
- noun A blast (of wind-blown snow or rain); a gust (especially if accompanied by snow or rain, or a shill or whistling sound).
Etymology
Originally from Scots and Northern English dialects (as a verb), probably of Old Norse origin; ultimately imitative.
Also from Scots and Northern English dialects.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To utter in a shrill tone; to scream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
- noun A shrill cry or sound. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Etymology [Of Scand. origin, and originally the same word as E. shrill.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “skirl”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details