birl
[burl]
/bɜrl/
verb (used with object)
1.
Chiefly Northern U.S. Lumbering.
to cause (a floating log) to rotate rapidly by treading upon it.
2.
British.
to spin or cause to rotate.
verb (used without object)
3.
Chiefly Northern U.S. Lumbering.
to cause a floating log to rotate rapidly by treading on it.
4.
British
.
to move or rotate rapidly.
Informal.
to spend money freely.
Informal.
to gamble.
noun
5.
British Informal.
an attempt; a gamble.
Origin
1715-25;
perhaps blend of
birr
1
and
whirl
, influenced, in some senses, by
birle
Related forms
birler,
noun
British Dictionary definitions for
birl
birl
1
/
bɜːl;
Scottish
bɪrl
/
verb
1.
(
Scot
) to spin; twirl
2.
(
US & Canadian
) to cause (a floating log) to spin using the feet while standing on it, esp as a sport among lumberjacks
noun
3.
a variant spelling of
burl
2
Derived Forms
birling,
noun
Word Origin
C18: probably imitative and influenced by
whirl
and
hurl
birl
2
/
bɜːl;
Scottish
bɪrl
/
verb
1.
(
archaic
,
Scot
) to ply (one's guests, etc) with drink
Word Origin
Old English
byrelian
; related to
byrele
cup-bearer
burl
2
/
bɜːl
/
noun
(
informal
)
1.
(
Scot & Austral
,
NZ
) an attempt; try (esp in the phrase
give it a burl
)
2.
(
Austral & NZ
) a ride in a car
Word Origin
C20: perhaps from
birl
1
in the Scot sense: a twist or turn