birl

American  

[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.

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verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly Northern U.S. Lumbering. to cause a floating log to rotate rapidly by treading on it.

2. British.

   1. to move or rotate rapidly.

   2. Informal. to spend money freely.

   3. Informal. to gamble.

noun

1. British Informal. an attempt; a gamble.

birl ¹ British  

/ bɜːl, bɪrl /

verb

1. to spin; twirl

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

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noun

1. a variant spelling of burl 2

birl ² British  

/ bɪrl, bɜːl /

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

• birler noun
• birling noun

Etymology

Origin of birl

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