birr
1
[bur]
/bɜr/
noun
1.
force; energy; vigor.
2.
emphasis in statement, speech, etc.
3.
a whirring sound.
verb (used without object)
4.
to move with or make a whirring sound.
Origin
1275-1325;
Middle English
bire, bur,
Old English
byre
strong wind; cognate with
Icelandic
byrr
favorable wind; akin to
bear
1
birr
2
[beer]
/bɪər/
noun
,
plural
birr.
1.
a paper money, silver coin, and monetary unit of Ethiopia, equal to 100 cents: replaced the Ethiopian dollar in 1976.
British Dictionary definitions for
birr
birr
1
/
bɜː
/
verb
1.
to make or cause to make a whirring sound
noun
2.
a whirring sound
3.
force, as of wind
4.
vigour; energy
Word Origin
Old English
byre
storm, related to Old Norse
byrr
favourable wind
birr
2
/
bɜː
/
noun
1.
the standard monetary unit of Ethiopia, divided into 100 cents
Word Origin
C20: from Amharic