thirl

[ thurl ]

verb (used with object)

, British Dialect.

1. to pierce.
2. to thrill.

thirl

¹

/ θɜːl; θɪrl /

verb

1. tr to enslave; bind

thirl

²

/ θɜːl /

verb

1. dialect.
   tr
   1. to bore or drill
   2. to thrill

Word History and Origins

Origin of thirl¹

before 1000; Middle English thirlen, Old English thyrlian, derivative of thyrel hole. See nostril

Word History and Origins

Origin of thirl¹

C16: variant of earlier thrill thrall

Origin of thirl²

Old English thyrelian, from thyrel hole; see nostril

Example Sentences

The word thrill arrives from the verb form of an earlier word, thirl — to make a hole, to pierce, to penetrate — with thirl itself tied back to thruh, from which we get through.

From New York Times

The word comes from the English “thirl,” meaning to pierce something with a sharp instrument–to bore it, which is what Pichette and Kordestani were doing to their audience.

From Time

Thirl, thėrl, n. a form of thrall.—v.t. to bind or subject.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

Thirl′age, a form of servitude by which the grain produced on certain lands had to be ground at a certain mill and a certain proportion paid.

From Project Gutenberg

An elbuck dirl will lang play thirl.

From Project Gutenberg