OriginFrom Middle English birlen, from Old English byrelian (“to give or serve a drink to”), from byrele (“cupbearer, steward, butler”), from Proto-Germanic *burilijaz (“carrier, manservant”), from *burjô (“descendant, son”), from *beraną (“to bear, carry”). Related to Old English byre (“son, offspring, youth”). More at bear.
- Scotland, obsoleteTo pour a drink (for).
“c.1882-1898, Francis James Child (collector and editor), Child's Ballads, Number 68: "Young Hunting",
She has birld in him Young Hunting / The good ale and the beer, / Till he was as fou drunken / As ”
- Scotland, obsoleteTo drink deeply or excessively; carouse.
“c.1882-1898, Francis James Child (collector and editor), Child's Ballads, Number 73: "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet",
They birled, they birled at Annies wake / The white bread and the wine, / And ere the”
Formsbirles(present, singular, third-person) · birling(participle, present) · birled(participle, past) · birled(past) · birl(alternative) · byrl(alternative)