skirl

[ skurl ]
/ skɜrl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR skirl ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to play the bagpipe.
Scot. and North England. to shriek.

noun

the sound of a bagpipe.
Scot. and North England. any shrill sound.

QUIZZES

IS YOUR VOCABULARY AS STRONG AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT? TRY THIS QUIZ TO SEE!

It may seem like fun and games but this quiz that uses vocab from popular stories will determine how much you know.
Question 1 of 10
disgruntle
to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength
to put into a state of sulky dissatisfaction
to make repayment or return for (service, benefits, etc.)
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of skirl

1350–1400; Middle English scirlen,skrillen (v.), perhaps <Scandinavian; compare Norwegian skrella boom, crash

Words nearby skirl

skip-tooth saw, skip tracer, skip welding, skip zone, ski rack, skirl, skirling, skirmish, Skirnir, Skíros, skirr
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to skirl

blare, hiss, sound, signal, whine, warble, pipe, toot, whiz, wheeze, blast, shriek, fife, trill, tootle, flute

Example sentences from the Web for skirl

British Dictionary definitions for skirl

skirl
/ (skɜːl, Scottish skɪrl) /

verb (intr)

Scot and Northern English dialect (esp of bagpipes) to emit a shrill sound
to play the bagpipes

noun

the sound of bagpipes
a shrill sound

Word Origin for skirl

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; see shrill
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