BIRL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

birl

[ burl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

Chiefly Northern U.S. Lumbering. to cause (a floating log) to rotate rapidly by treading upon it.
British. to spin or cause to rotate.

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Northern U.S. Lumbering. to cause a floating log to rotate rapidly by treading on it.
British.
1. to move or rotate rapidly.
2. Informal. to spend money freely.
3. Informal. to gamble.

noun

British Informal. an attempt; a gamble.

birl

/ bɜːl; bɪrl /

verb

to spin; twirl
to cause (a floating log) to spin using the feet while standing on it, esp as a sport among lumberjacks

noun

a variant spelling of burl 2

birl

/ bɪrl; bɜːl /

verb

archaic.
to ply (one's guests, etc) with drink

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Derived Forms

ˈ��Բ�, noun

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��İ� noun

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of birl¹

1715–25; perhaps blend of birr ¹ and whirl, influenced, in some senses, by birle

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of birl¹

C18: probably imitative and influenced by whirl and hurl

Origin of birl²

Old English byrelian ; related to byrele cup-bearer

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There was sea salt in the air, and sleepless seagulls were birling in the darkness overhead.

From

For years, Muir, a self-possessed 12-year-old from the East Bay, told his parents that he was a “birl”: part boy, part girl.

From

Birl, birl, v.t. to spin anything round: to throw down a coin as one's share in a joint contribution.—v.i. to whirl round.

From

Oh, could I but snap his nerves one by one, and birl among his vitals!

From

Already he had mastered the rudiments of “birling,” and could run across floating logs, if not gracefully at least with slight chance of a ducking.

From

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