skirl

== English == === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /skɜːl/ (US) IPA(key): /skɜɹl/ Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)l === Etymology 1 === Originally from Scots and Northern English dialects (as a verb), probably of Old Norse origin; ultimately imitative. ==== Verb ==== skirl (third-person singular simple present skirls, present participle skirling, simple past and past participle skirled) (Scotland, Northern England) To make a shrill sound, as of bagpipes. 1829, James Hogg (as the Ettrick Shepherd), The p and the q, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 26, page 693, He gloom'd and he skirl'd, and, when in hard case, / He whiles gae his mother a yerk on the face; ==== Noun ==== skirl (plural skirls) (Scotland, Northern England) A shrill sound, as of bagpipes. 2006 [Bantam], Nick Drake, Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead, 2011, Black Swan, page 191, The last servants and late officials hurried into their places, the guards took their positions, and then, with a beating of the drums and a skirl of reed pipes, the whole group made its way back across the courtyard and up the stairs to the Window of Appearances between the palace and the Great Temple. A blast (of wind-blown snow or rain); a gust (especially if accompanied by snow or rain, or a shill or whistling sound). === Etymology 2 === Also from Scots and Northern English dialects. ==== Verb ==== skirl (third-person singular simple present skirls, present participle skirling, simple past and past participle skirled) Alternative form of shirl. === Anagrams === lirks == Scots == === Verb === skirl (third-person singular simple present skirls, present participle skirlin, simple past and past participle skirlt) to make a shrill sound, as of bagpipes to scream to shriek to laugh shrilly === Noun === skirl (plural skirls) shrill, piercing noise scream, screech