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

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

Skirl(e, v. [Late north. ME and e.m.E. skirle, metath. form of scrille (c1400), skyryl (a1513), of Scand. origin. Cf. Norw. skryla, (of a child) to wail, skrella to shriek with laughter.]

1. To scream, shriek, wail. Also const. unto (a person) and for (also in the sense ‘because of’) (a thing).(1) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 39.
Baith Johine the Ros and thow sall squeill and skirle And evir I heir ocht of ȝour making mair a1605 Montg. Flyt. 486 (H).
It skittered, it scarted; they skirlde ilk ane 1632 Law Memor. Pref. lvii.
She nipped the bairne in the thie till it skirled 16… Sempill P. 47/52.
It made me yelp, and yeul, and yell, And skirl and skreed(2) 1633 Johnston Diary I 85.
Pitifully looking and skirling unto God as unto thy fayther(3) 1633 Johnston Diary I 106.
Thou skirled for pardon ever crying unto the Lord(4) 1645 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 131.
Babie James … skirlis for impatiencie

b. Of a bird or animal; To call, cry out. c1590 J. Stewart 19/137.
The chirming birds againe did skirle and schout c1650 Spalding II 460.
Bot the hart, the hynd, the deir, the rae, skirllit at the sicht of this fyre

2. To make the sound characteristic of the bagpipes. 16… Sempill P. 43/44.
He gart his pipe, when he did play, Baith skirl and skreed