skirl verb¹ & noun. [skǝ:l] Orig. Scot. & north. LME.
[Prob. of Scandinavian origin (cf. Norwegian dial. skrylla), ult. imit. Cf. SCREEL.]
A. verb.
1. verb intrans.
a. Cry out shrilly, shriek. LME.
■ J. M. Barrie The women-folk fair skirled wi' fear.
b. Emit a loud shrill sound; esp. (of bagpipes) produce a characteristic shrill sound. M17.
■ R. Burns He screw'd the pipes and gart them skirl.

2. verb trans. Sing or utter in a loud shrill tone; play (a piece of music) on the bagpipes. L18.

3. verb intrans. & trans. Produce a characteristic shrill sound with (bagpipes). E19.
■ C. McCullough The pipers skirled..and the serious dancing began.
b. noun.
1. A shrill cry, a shriek. E16.

2. A shrill sound, esp. that characteristic of bagpipes. M19.
■ L. G. Gibbon You'd hear the skirl of the blades ring down the Howe for mile on mile.
■ G. M. Brown Skop the piper..had to sit in a corner..making skirls and rants.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

skirl verb² intrans. [skǝ:l] M19.
[Origin unkn.]
Sweep; whirl.
■ K. M. Peyton The wind soughed..skirling in the flowers and the Mothers' Union banners.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲