Obs. except dial. Forms: 1 byrlian, 3 (Orm.) birrlenn, 3–4 birlen, 5 bryllyn, 5–6 byrle, 6 birll, 8 birle (9 dial. burl), 6– biri. [OE. byrelian, f. byrele: see prec.]
1. To draw or pour out (drink, to or for any one).
a. 1000. Guthlac (Gr.) 840. Þone bitran drync, þone Ewe fyrn Adame ʓeaf, byrelade bryd ʓeong.
c. 1200. Ormin, 15396. Þuss birrleþþ defell & hiss þeww Aȝȝ, werrse & werrse drinnchess.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 43. Þei drinke … and birlen it to oþere men.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 292. Sche byrlyd whyt wyne and rede.
c. 1510. Skelton, Elynour Rum., 268. Dame Elynour entrete To byrle them of the best.
1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 605. Bacchus birlyng the wyne which by the Conduytes in therth ranne to all people.
1851. N. & Q., Ser. I. III. 204/2. ‘Told me to burl out the beer … and I burled out a glass and gave it to him.’
1875. Lanc. Gloss. (E. D. S.), 40. ‘Birl out th’ beer.’
2. To supply or ply with drink.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 226. He þeonne mid tet, birleð him ilome.
a. 1325. Metr. Hom. (1863), 121. Than birles he thaim wit waikere [win].
a. 1800. Earl Richard, iii. in Scott, Minstr. She birled him wi’ the ale and wine.
3. intr. To carouse; trans. to drink and pass (the cup). (A modern pseudo-archaism.)
a. 1800. Ballad Sir P. Spens, i. Hie sits oor king in Dumfermline, Sits birlin at the wine.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., x. Birling the brown bowl wi’ the fowler and the falconer. Ibid. (1818), Rob Roy, xiv. The twa loons that did the deed birling and drinking wi’ him.
