pirn
Americannoun
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a weaver's bobbin, spool, or reel.
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a fishing reel.
noun
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a reel or bobbin
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(in weaving) the spool of a shuttle
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a fishing reel
Etymology
Origin of pirn
1400–50; late Middle English pyrne < ?
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The first thing he saw was a half-finished reel of cotton—a pirn, he called it.
From Robert Falconer by MacDonald, George
"The Keeper will rue this before year and day are out," said a third; "the Master of Ravenswood is the lad to wind him a pirn."
From The Bride of Lammermoor by Scott, Walter, Sir
Tak my word, it's no chancy when a minister begins at the tail o' his subject: he'll wind a queer pirn afore he's dune.
From Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush by Maclaren, Ian
The whole kemp were amazed at the quantity which from time to time filled her pirn.
From Irish Fairy Tales by W. B.
To wind him a pirn, to make him repent of what he has done.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIV. by Leighton, Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
