thirl

English

Alternative forms

• thurl

Pronunciation

• IPA: /θəːl/

Etymology 1

From Middle English thirl, thiril, from Old English þyrel (“a hole made through anything, opening, aperture, orifice, perforation”), from Proto-Germanic *þurhilan (“hole, opening”), equivalent to through +‎ -le. Related to thrill, drill.

Noun

thirl (plural thirls)

1. (archaic or dialectal) A hole, aperture, especially a nostril.

Etymology 2

From Middle English thirlen, thurlen, thorlen, from Old English þyrlian, þyrelian (“to make a hole through, pierce through, perforate; make hollow, excavate; make vain”), from the noun (see above).

Verb

thirl (third-person singular simple present thirls, present participle thirling, simple past and past participle thirled)

1. To pierce, perforate, penetrate.
2. (obsolete) To drill or bore.

Derived terms

• nostril
• thirlable
• thrill

Etymology 3

Origin uncertain. Perhaps a blend of throw and hurl.

Verb

thirl (third-person singular simple present thirls, present participle thirling, simple past and past participle thirled)

1. (obsolete) To throw (a projectile).
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.8:

     And many Authours doe in this manner wound the protection of their cause, by over-rashly running against that which they take hold-of, thirling [transl. lanceant] such darts at their enemies, that might with much more advantage be cast at them.