Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BIRL, v.²

1. To pour out liquor for drinking; to ply with drink.Sc. 1904 Brown Robin in Ballads (ed. Child) No. 97A vii.:
O she has birld her father's porter Wi strong beer an wi wine.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 122:
Meantime we'll tak a glass . . . An' syne we's birle it bauld wi cheerfu' face.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 54:
But we used to birl the stoup and to blether by the lichts.

Vbl.n. birling, action of drawing or pouring out liquor. Given in N .E.D. as obs. except dial. Sc. 1935 F. Niven Flying Years iv.:
A ritual in the birling of the wine round the table.Bnff. 1853 The Drunkard's Progress in Bnffsh. Jnl. (23 Aug.):
And liberal grows the birling o't.

2. To carouse: often followed by prep. at.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality v.:
Sitting there birling, at your poor uncle's cost.Abd. 1746 W. Forbes The Dominie Deposed (1821) iii. xii.:
They birl'd fu fast at butter'd ale, To gie them ease.

Phr.: birl the brown bowl, to drink, carouse.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality x.:
“And where are my comrades?” asked the centinel [sic]. “Birling the brown bowl wi' the fowler and the falconer, and some o' the serving folk.”