Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1818, 1886
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†SPIRL, v. To run about in a lively way; to whirl around (Slk. 1825 Jam.). Vbl.n. spirling, a contention, a broil (Per. 1825 Jam.).Ags. 1818 in G. Hay Round O (1883) 240:
The wives and bairns did scream and skirl, And naked o'er the leys did spirl.Sc. 1886 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) IX. 71:
An' aye the burnie it lauched an' ran, An' spattered, an' pattered, an' spirled, an' span.
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"Spirl v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spirl_v>
