Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus
1

birl

verb \ ˈbər(-ə)l , Scot also ˈbir(-ə)l \

Definition of birl

birled; birling; birls
intransitive verb
chiefly Scotland
: carouse

Origin and Etymology of birl

Middle English, from Old English byrelian; probably akin to Old English beran to carry — more at bear

2

birl

verb

Definition of birl

birled; birling; birls
transitive verb
1 : spin
2 : to cause (a floating log) to rotate by treading
intransitive verb
: to progress by whirling
—

birler

play \ˈbər-lər, ˈbir-\ noun

Origin and Etymology of birl

perhaps imitative

Learn More about birl

  1. See words that rhyme with birl

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up birl? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

declivity

play

a downward inclination or slope

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  2. uphold 'to let stand'

  3. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  4. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  5. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

birl

Test Your Vocabulary

Obscure Shapes

  • a-pile-of-three-dimensional-shapes-in-green
  • Something that is ooid is shaped like:
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games