Now only Sc. Forms: α. 5–6 vyroll (5 vyrolfe), virol. β. 5–6 vyral, 6 wyrall, viral(l. γ. 5 vyrille, vyr-, virelle, 6 wirrell, 9 virrel, 8– virl. [a. OF. virol(e and virelle: see VIROLE, VERREL, and FERRULE.] A band of metal, ivory, or bone, placed round the end or some other part of a piece of wood, etc., to keep it from splitting or wearing; a ferrule.

1

  α.  c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 510/2. Vyrolfe, of a knyfe (K. uirol, P. vyroll.), spirula.

2

c. 1450.  Medulla (Cant. MS.). Tolus est summitas templi eminens rotunditas, a bolle or a toppe or els a rownde vyrolle.

3

1530.  Palsgr., 285/1. Vyroll, uirolle.

4

1580.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 319. Ane battirt … montit upoun ane auld stok, and hir axtre and quhelis garnysit with foure virols of irn.

5

  β.  1496.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 289. Item, for iije nalis to the wyndbandis and the vyralis, iiij s. Ibid. (1503), II. 389. Item, for sevin score viralis and diamandis for speris, ilk pece vj d.

6

1547.  in N. & Q., 9th Ser. IX. 109/2. Item three staves, every of theym having a picke with two graynes at the nether end and a wyrall of Iron tynned.

7

1552.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), II. 539. One of the king’s canes,… garnished with gold; and having at the end a viral of gold.

8

  γ.  14[?].  in Wr.-Wülcker, 735. Hec spirula, a vyrille.

9

1482–4.  Acc. Exch. K. R., 496/28 (Publ. Rec. Off.). Virelles Plates pro diversis poleys.

10

1483.  Cath. Angl., 402/1. A vyrelle of a knyfe.

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1511.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., IV. 272. Foure dusson of wirrellis with diamontis.

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1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. A winsome flute, O’ plum-tree made, wi’ iv’ry virles round.

13

1787.  Burns, Brigs Ayr, 84. Five taper staves as smooth’s a bead, Wi’ virls an’ whirlygigums at the head.

14

1813.  W. Tennant, Anster Concert, in Life (1861), I. 25. Braw flute, wi’ ivory virls, man.

15

1890.  Service, Notandums, 115. I gaed in to Willie Gaud’s as I cam bye and got him to put a new virrel on my staff.

16

  transf.  1823.  Galt, Gilhaize, xii. He walked with slow and tottering steps, wearing a virl of fur round his neck.

17

  Hence Virled ppl. a., furnished with a virl or ferrule. Also Virlet, a small virl.

18

1793.  Statist. Acc. Scot., IX. 371. The blade is … set in a halt of Tortoise-shell, or stained horn, girt with silver virlets.

19

1822.  Galt, Sir A. Wylie, III. v. 35. An ivory headed cane virled with gold.

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1842.  D. Vedder, Poems, 227. A staff … Cut frae the gallows wood, Weel virled about wi’ murderer’s banes.

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