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skirl

English

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skirl¹

  • /skɜːl/ UK
  • /skɜɹl/ US

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l

Where it comes from

Originally from Scots and Northern English dialects (as a verb), probably of Old Norse origin; ultimately imitative.

verb skirls · skirling · skirled

  1. Northern England, Scotland To make a shrill sound, as of bagpipes. Come here, or stay where ye are, and skirl as loud ye can — it's a' ye're gude for — l say, ye auld deevil, skirl — skirl — louder — louder, woman — gar the gentles hear ye in the ha' — I have heard ye as far off as the Bass for a less matter.

noun skirls

  1. Northern England, Scotland A shrill sound, as of bagpipes. To a resounding wail headed by the King-Kong skirl, all gangs joined in hauling in the net.
  2. A blast (of wind-blown snow or rain); a gust (especially if accompanied by snow or rain, or a shill or whistling sound). The wind can blow the bulk of a skirt between a woman's legs, or wrap her in a twist, or billow underneath so skirls of wind touch faintly, delightfully. Some women hear skirts murmuring or sighing, or conversing with the flesh they cover. But most skirts drape in silence, the silence of slow snow f

skirl²

  • /skɜːl/ UK
  • /skɜɹl/ US

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l

Where it comes from

Also from Scots and Northern English dialects.

verb skirls · skirling · skirled

  1. alternative Alternative form of shirl To show that there is nothing absurd in this notable scheme of sending first-rate men-of-war skirling along the surface of the ocean, Mr. Macneill tells the following most marvellous story : […]

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MLA

"skirl." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/skirl. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

skirl. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/skirl

Chicago

"skirl." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/skirl.

BibTeX
@misc{skirl_2026,
  title = {skirl},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/skirl},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}