Also 7 teery-larry, -lerry, -leery, tyra-lyra. Cf. TIRALEE. [Echoic. Cf. OF. turelu, tureluru, ‘a comic or burlesque refrain’ (Godefroy), turelure a bagpipe, a refrain, F. turlut a titlark; and quot. 1889.] A representation of the note of the skylark, or of a similar sound uttered as an exclamation of delight or gaiety.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iii. 9. The Larke, that tirra-Lyra chaunts.
1613. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. v. The Larke … With the shrill chanting of her teery-lerry.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 310/2. The Lark singeth Tyra Lyra.
1832. Tennyson, Lady of Shalott, III. iv. ‘Tirra lirra,’ by the river Sang Sir Lancelot.
1839. T. Miller, Rural Sketches, 6. Then up flew the lark, carrying his ‘tirra lirra’ heavenward, until he was lost amid the silver of the floating clouds, and the wide azure of the sky rained down melody.
1889. Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 805/1. Ture-Lure, or Toure-Loure, a very ancient lyrical burden or refrain, probably of Provençal origin. The old English form is ‘tirra-lirra.’
Hence † Tirrilirring ppl. a., that sings tirra-lirra; † Tiry-tiry-leerer, a lark.
1659. Torriano, Tirilirante lódola, the Tiriliring lark.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 50. Let Tiry-tiry-leerers [marg. larkes] vpward flie.
