Dictionary

birle en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English birlen, from Old English byrelian (“to give or serve a drink to”), from byrele (“cupbearer, steward, butler”), from Proto-Germanic *burilijaz (“carrier, manservant”), from *burjô (“descendant, son”), from *beraną (“to bear, carry”). Related to Old English byre (“son, offspring, youth”). More at bear.

Meanings

1. (Scotland, obsolete) To pour a drink (for).
   • c.1882-1898, Francis James Child (collector and editor), Child's Ballads, Number 68: "Young Hunting", She has birld in him Young Hunting / The good ale and the beer, / Till he was as fou drunken / As any wild-wood steer.
2. (Scotland, obsolete) To drink deeply or excessively; carouse.
   • c.1882-1898, Francis James Child (collector and editor), Child's Ballads, Number 73: "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet", They birled, they birled at Annies wake / The white bread and the wine, / And ere the morn at that same time / At his they birled the same.

Forms

Deriveds

birler