Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPURL, v., n. Also spuirle. [spʌrl]

I. v. 1. To struggle, sprawl, kick or throw the legs about (Slk. 1825 Jam.); to wriggle (Lnk., Rxb. 1971).Edb. 1821 W. Liddle Poems 100:
While't lay, it kick'd and spurl'd sae Wi' its feet i' the air.Sc. 1823 Blackwood's Mag. (May) 594:
I just thought I saw the rape dangling in the wind before my very een. What a devil of a spurling yon daur-the-mischief would mak!Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Verses 13:
Fu' coshly there, wee spurlin' dot . . . May angels guard thy lowly cot.Dmf. 1912 A. Anderson Later Poems 160:
When a wean begins to nod an' spurls wi' legs an' han's.

II. n. Struggle, fight, a convulsive movement.Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 16:
A cauld, cauld sweat is on his skin, His painfu' spuirle's nearly dune.