Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tirl, n. Also: tirle, tirrle, tirrill. [Tirl v. Also in the later dial.] A twirling, twisting or rippling movement. b. fig. A turn, a go. c. A top. d. A disease of some sort, ? St. Vitus's dance. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 316.
The cherreis hang abone my heid … Als graithlie glansing as thai grew On trimbling tuiskis teuch … Reflex of Phebus in the firth Now cullorit all thair knoppis With dansing and glansing In tirlis [W. tirles, Wr. tirle] lik dornik champ a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1474.
There was never sa gude ane ambler but he had some tirle 1657 Dumfries Kirk S. 3 Sept.
Because she refuised to give him a snuf he gave her a tirle and she fell overb. c1660 J. Guthrie in Union Mag. (Oct. 1902) 463.
Many a man has touched the cross and it has scalded him; and he has given it a tirl and letten it lie a1689 Cleland 32.
She was tyred with his speeches; She would far rather had a tirrle Of an aquavitae barrelc. 16… Trip and Goe Hey in Wode's Psalter (ed.) 245a.
Your gimpinet plays the tirl, the tirld. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 315 (T).
The phtiseik, the twithȝaik, the tittis, and the tirrillis