v. Sc. [Imitative of the sound: see CHIRR v.] To warble, to utter a long note with modulation; sometimes, to emit a low melancholy sound.

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1818.  Ballad, in Edinb. Mag., Oct., 327 (Jam.). The laverock chirl ’t his cantie sang.

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18[?].  Hogg, Hunt of Eildon, 323 (Jam.). The chirling echoes went and came.

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1838.  J. Struthers, Poetic Tales, 78. Short syne ye took a chirlin fit.

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  Hence Chirl sb.

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c. 1600.  Montgomerie, Sonn., li. 3. Thy chivring chirlis, vhilks changinglie thou chants.

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1850.  Zoologist, VII. 2527. [Cross-bills] … commence a fretful, unhappy chirl, not unlike the Redpole’s.

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1871.  Carlyle, in Mrs. C.’s Lett., I. 3. His voice … had a kind of musical warble (‘chirl’ we vernacularly called it).

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