Sc. [A modern word: apparently onomatopæic; having probably association with birr, whirr, whirl, hurl, and Sc. dirl, pirl, in all of which there is a reference to vibration or rotation and its sound.]
1. intr. To move on with rotatory motion, as a rifle bullet; also fig.
1789. D. Davidson, Seasons, 39 (Jam.). Now through the air the auld boy birl’d.
2. To revolve or rotate rapidly and with characteristic noise.
1790. Morison, Poems, 6 (Jam.). The temper pin she gi’es a tirl, An’ spins but slow, yet seems to birl.
1806. R. Jamieson, Pop. Ball., II. 356 (Jam.). Coming frae the hungry hill, He hears the quernie birlin.
3. trans. To cause anything to rotate rapidly; to spin (a coin in the air or on the table); hence to toss a coin on the table as one’s contribution to a joint fund, to contribute one’s share.
1724. Ramsay, Poems, I. 262. Now settled gossies … Did for fresh bickers birle.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Cauler Oyst., Poems (1845), 8. There we adjourn wi’ hearty foulk To birle our bodles.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxviii. I’ll pay for another … and then we’ll birl our bawbees a’ round.
1879. Jamieson, Sc. Dict., s.v. Birl, Children put half-pence on their fingers to birl them … in the low game of Pitch-and-toss.
