borrel

See also: bőrrel

English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old French burel (“a kind of coarse woollen cloth”). Doublet of burel and bureau.

Alternative forms

• burrel

Noun

borrel (countable and uncountable, plural borrels)

1. (obsolete) Coarse woollen cloth; hence, coarse clothing; a garment.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Prologue.

     This is to seye, if I be gay, sire shrewe,

     I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe.

2. A kind of light stuff, of silk and wool.

Etymology 2

Compare Old French burel (“reddish”) or French beurré (“butter pear”).

Noun

borrel (plural borrels)

1. A sort of pear with a smooth soft pulp; the red butter pear.

Etymology 3

Probably from borrel.

Adjective

borrel (comparative more borrel, superlative most borrel)

1. (obsolete) ignorant, unlearned; belonging to the laity, a mean fellow.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Edmund Spenser, The Shepheardes Calender.

     Siker thou speak'st like a lewd sorrel,

     Of heaven, to deemen so:

     Howbe I am but rude and borrel,

     Yet nearer ways I know.

   • (Can we date this quote?), Geoffrey Chaucer, The Franklin's Prologue.

     But sires, by cause I am a burel man,

     At my my bigynnyng first I yow biseche,

     Have me excused of my rude speche.

   • (Can we date this quote?), Geoffrey Chaucer, The Monk's Prologue.

     Religioun hath take up al the corn

     Of tredyng, and we borel men been shrympes.

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Dutch

Etymology

Diminutive of Middle Dutch borre, borne (“well, drinkwater”). Compare bron (“well”).

Pronunciation

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Noun

borrel m (plural borrels, diminutive borreltje n)

1. a shot of an alcoholic drink such as rum or gin; a tot
2. an informal, often impromptu reception or meetup, typically involving alcoholic drinks

Derived terms

• borrelen
• borrelnoot
• vrijdagmiddagborrel