wirra

American

[wir-uh] / ˈwɪr ə /

interjection

Irish English.

an exclamation of sorrow or lament.

wirra British

/ ˈwɪrə /

interjection

an exclamation of sorrow or deep concern

"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

Etymology

Origin of wirra

First recorded in 1830–40, wirra is from Irish A Mhuire! “Mary!,” an appeal to the Virgin

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.

"Not a fair nor a market-town doesn't know her as well as—Oh, wirra! wirra!"

From Handy Andy, Volume 2 — a Tale of Irish Life by Lover, Samuel

The O. Fr. wirra does not correspond to the Sco. forms of the word.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias

Oh, wirra, why did ye dhraw her on ye?

From Humours of Irish Life by Various

"Ah, wirra, wirra!" wailed the cook, wringing his hands.

From Blazed Trail Stories and Stories of the Wild Life by White, Stewart Edward

Wirra, wirra, why did I ever let myself be persuaded at all?

From The Irish Twins by Perkins, Lucy Fitch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023