thirl

American  

[thurl] / θɜrl /

verb (used with object)

British Dialect.

1. to pierce.

2. to thrill.

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thirl ¹ British  

/ θɜːl /

verb

1. dialect  (tr)

   1. to bore or drill

   2. to thrill

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thirl ² British  

/ θɜːl, θɪrl /

verb

1. (tr) to enslave; bind

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Etymology

Origin of thirl

before 1000; Middle English thirlen, Old English thyrlian, derivative of thyrel hole. See nostril

Example Sentences

The word thrill arrives from the verb form of an earlier word, thirl — to make a hole, to pierce, to penetrate — with thirl itself tied back to thruh, from which we get through.

From New York Times

The word comes from the English “thirl,” meaning to pierce something with a sharp instrument–to bore it, which is what Pichette and Kordestani were doing to their audience.

From Time

Thirl, thėrl, n. a form of thrall.—v.t. to bind or subject.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

Thirl′age, a form of servitude by which the grain produced on certain lands had to be ground at a certain mill and a certain proportion paid.

From Project Gutenberg

An elbuck dirl will lang play thirl.

From Project Gutenberg