pirn
Americannoun
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a weaver's bobbin, spool, or reel.
-
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.
I ken naething about that," said the gaberlunzie; "but an my auld acquaintance be hersell, or anything like hersell, she may come to wind us a pirn.
From The Antiquary — Volume 02 by Scott, Walter, Sir
Fathom after fathom goes reeling from your pirn, but still you are barely able to drop the far fly into the distant curl.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 21 by Leighton, Alexander
"Ay, and the thread still on the pirn."
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 21 by Leighton, Alexander
Na, he juist said he'd forgotten a pirn, or his cruizey lamp, or ony thing.
From A Window in Thrums by Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew)
An my auld acquaintance be hersel, or onything like hersel, she may come to wind us a pirn.
From The Proverbs of Scotland by Hislop, 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.
