Obs. Also 1 byrele, byrle, 2–3 birle, 3 borle, (Orm.) birrle. [OE. byrele, byrle, str. masc., of uncertain etymology (perh. for earlier byrel:—OTeut. type *burilo-z, f. beran to BEAR). The ON. byrli ‘cupbearer,’ byrla ‘to pour out,’ were prob. adopted from OE.] One who pours out drink; a cupbearer, butler.
a. 1000. Beowulf, 2327. Byrelas sealdon win of wunder-fatum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xl. 20. Þæra byrla ealdor.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14053. Acc wel þe birrless wisstenn.
c. 1205. Lay., 24604. Beduer, þas kinges hæȝe birle [c. 1250 borle, and so always].
