Birler
September 6th 2025
Birler appears in the Dictionaries of the Scots Language (DSL) within a quotation from George Watson’s Roxburghshire Word-Book (1923): “BIRL, to pick knots, etc., from the surface of (cloth), in finishing its manufacture. Hence Birler, one who does this”.
These jobs were filled by women and newspaper advertisements give us an indication of the specialisms that developed within the industry. In August 1884, the Scottish Border Record advertised for “Greasy Birlers” who would work with woolen fabrics that still contained their natural grease. This distinguished them from clean birlers. Meanwhile, in June 1895, the Paisley Daily Express featured a specific call for “Experienced Shawl Birlers”.
Newspapers also document the friendships that built up between colleagues. In August 1879, the Stirling Observer reported on a works outing where, “The Birlers employed in the Messrs Wilson’s Works, along with a few friends, had their annual picnic to Loch Coulter on the afternoon of Saturday last”.
These social events appear to have remained a common aspect of the job, as in January 1930 the Southern Reporter noted that “A very enjoyable social and dance was held in the Good Templar Hall on Friday evening by the apprentice darners and birlers of the Forest Mills”.
Crucially, this sense of comradery wasn’t limited to socials. In June 1915, the Scotsman reported on a millworkers’ strike in Selkirk: “The birlers and darners … struck work on Friday owing to a reduction having been made in their working statement. The factory is largely employed in weaving khaki for the Army”.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language would like to thank Bob Dewar for illustrating our Scots Word of the Week feature.
