Word of the Day 04/23/25 Birl

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

Birl (verb, noun)
birl [ burl ]

verb (used with object)
1. Chiefly Northern U.S. Lumbering. to cause (a floating log) to rotate rapidly by treading upon it.
2. British. to spin or cause to rotate.

verb (used without object)
3. Chiefly Northern U.S. Lumbering. to cause a floating log to rotate rapidly by treading on it.
4. British.
a. to move or rotate rapidly.
b. Informal. to spend money freely.
c. Informal. to gamble.

noun
5. British Informal. an attempt; a gamble.

Other Word Forms
birl er noun

Origin: 1715–25; perhaps blend of birr and whirl, influenced, in some senses, by birle

Example Sentences
There was sea salt in the air, and sleepless seagulls were birling in the darkness overhead.
From The New Yorker

For years, Muir, a self-possessed 12-year-old from the East Bay, told his parents that he was a “birl”: part boy, part girl.
From Washington Post

Birl, birl, v.t. to spin anything round: to throw down a coin as one's share in a joint contribution.—v.i. to whirl round.
From Project Gutenberg

Oh, could I but snap his nerves one by one, and birl among his vitals!
From Project Gutenberg

Already he had mastered the rudiments of “birling,” and could run across floating logs, if not gracefully at least with slight chance of a ducking.
From Project Gutenberg

Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.

2 chapters

[agdhani.livejournal.com]

my 'not busy week' has been very busy thus far...but I did get 2 chapters proofread today.
might get another one in before I sleep, but figure I should pass the buck before I forget.

itsanonyx good luck for Thursday!