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.

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.

birl

/ bɜːl; bɪrl /

birl

/ bɜːl; bɪrl /

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

Origin of birl¹

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

Origin of birl¹

Old English byrelian ; related to byrele cup-bearer

Origin of birl²

C18: probably imitative and influenced by whirl and hurl

Suddenly with one accord they commenced to birl the log from left to right.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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