Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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MIRL, v.², n.² Also mirrl, mirrel.

I. v. 1. intr. To move briskly and lightly, to twirl around (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 145, Sh. 1963), to dance as a clown, to patter (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); to tremble, quiver, twinkle. Also fig. Hence ppl.adj. mirlin, quivering, shimmering; vbl.n. mirlin, the shimmering, dancing appearance of light on the horizon in hot weather. Deriv. mirlie in comb. mirliecog, mirlicoag, -kog, a spinning top (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1963).Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 64:
Da stars wis mirlin' i' da lift as if dey wir trimblin' wi' cowld.Sh. 1933 J. Nicolson Hentilagets 15:
A mirrlin coorteen reeks across da lift. An whin its goalden faalds begin ta shift, I ken da mystic dance is gaein ta start.Sh. 1958 Shetland News (30 Dec.) 4:
Mirlin laek a russi-foal.Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 21:
Mirl - to quiver or tremble. Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 19:
The cheengefu lift bleeds blae,
Colours mell and mirl,
A mixter-maxter cumulus o pearl,
A weety, sulky haar. Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 9:
Like mochs aroon a caunle-flame, the mirlin mem'ries heeze:
O April sunlicht drappin gowd on Cluny's scentit trees;
Blindrift's doonfa, saft Beltane's thaw, ower Tullich's rigs o green.

2. tr. To cause to quiver, to shake.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (5 May):
He pointid at da yow an' lamb lyin' apon his fore knees sookin' awa' an' mirrlin' his tail.

3. To mill about, to swarm (Sh. 1963).

II. n. A quivering, dancing motion.Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 20. 25:
Da bairn at . . . felt da swingin a woarlds in every mirl o' a girse bled.