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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BURL, Burrel, v. and n. A variant of Birl, v.¹ and n., q.v. [bʌr(ə)l]

1. v.

(1)  To whirl, revolve rapidly (Abd.²², Edb.¹, Kcb.¹ 1937). Jak. gives the forms burrel, borl, borrel for Sh.Dmb. 1932 A. J. Cronin Three Loves 326:
The occasional shout [of a Master of the Ceremonies at a dance-hall]: “Swap judies and burl!”

(2) To move rapidly, to hurry (Fif.¹⁰ 1937).Ags.(D) 1922 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden ix.:
We wisna lang in burlin' up I can tell ye.Per. 1817 A. Buchanan Rural Poetry 72: 
Harsh as the drone o' burlin nowt Or barkin' colly.

(3) To dance.Gsw. 1935 A. McArthur and H. K. Long No Mean City iii.:
“She's fairly coming on at the burlin',” he boasted. “She's a pure treat at the one-steps an' aw.”

(4) To blow on a whistle. Cf. 2. Gsw. 1927 Scots Mag. (June) 179: 
The polis! Erchie has blabbed on us. . . . An' auld Silver Winker's burlin' on his mate.

2. n.

(1) A whistle, “esp. the school whistle” (Lth., Bwk. 1937 (per Lnk.³); Kcb.¹ 1937).Gsw.(D) 1909 J. J. Bell Oh! Christina! v.:
The last lot o' burls wasna up to the mark. . . . The pea was aye stickin'.

(2) The sound made by a whistle (Fif.¹⁰, Arg.¹, Kcb.¹ 1937).Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems and Sketches 102:
But a' was as silent as ever, except the short, shrill burrel o' a policeman's whistle, dootless hailing his neighbour tae gie him a haun' tae dae naething.