v. Sc. [Possibly repr. OE. ʓyrran, *ʓirran (see YERR), but probably an independent echoic formation.] intr. To snarl, growl. So Yirr sb., a snarl, growl.

1

1786.  Burns, Ep. to Maj. Logan, ii. When idly goavan whyles we saunter; Yirr! fancy barks.

2

1815.  G. Beattie, John O’Arnha’ (1826), 63. The watch-dogs yirr’d and yowf’d wi’ fright.

3

1825.  Jamieson, Yirr, the growl of a dog.

4

1890.  Service, Notandums, xix. 125. If ony whillywha o’ an Englisher should yirr and mak a kilfudyoch aboot the words he doesna ken.

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