shirr

[ shur ]

/ ʃɜr /

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See synonyms for: shirring on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to draw up or gather (cloth or the like) on three or more parallel threads.

to bake (eggs removed from the shell) in a shallow dish or in individual dishes.

noun

Also shirring. a shirred arrangement, as of cloth.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of shirr

First recorded in 1840–50; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM shirr

un·shirred, adjective

Words nearby shirr

shirker, Shirleen, Shirley, Shirley poppy, Shirley Temple, shirr, shirt, shirtband, shirt-dress, shirt front, shirting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use shirr in a sentence

Shirr, Shir, shėr, n. a puckering made in a fabric by parallel gathering-threads.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
Shirr′ing, decorative-shirred needlework; Shirr′ing-string, a cord used to gather the threads together in shirred-work.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
It is too nestle by the pin grove shirr, all agree to the counting ate ate pall.
Geography and Plays|Gertrude Stein
Shirr some eggs, and before serving pour some tomato sauce, or pure, over the white of the eggs.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler

Here have I heard all their chat just now, and the white whale—shirr!
Moby Dick; or The Whale|Herman Melville

British Dictionary definitions for shirr

shirr

/ (ʃɜː) /

verb

to gather (fabric) into two or more parallel rows to decorate a dress, blouse, etc, often using elastic thread

(tr) to bake (eggs) out of their shells

noun Also: shirring

a series of gathered rows decorating a dress, blouse, etc

Word Origin for shirr

C19: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012