int. Irish. Also wurrah, whirra. [Preceded by oh, = Ir. a muire.] An exclamation of sorrow or lament. So Wirrasthru [Ir. a muire is truaige].
1839. Carleton, Fardorougha, xii. Oh, wurrah, wurrah, this night!
1842. Lover, Handy Andy, xxii. And what was it at all? an upset, was it? oh, wirra! and wasn’t it lucky he wasn’t killed?
1892. T. E. Brown, Lett. (1900), I. 158. He … rushed forth to catch the train,… with some wild wirrasthru of farewell.
1908. Weyman, Wild Geese, xxiii. 366. ‘Oh, whirra, whirra, what’ll I do?’ the Irishman exclaimed, helplessly wringing his hands.
