Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SPIRL, n. A small, slender shoot, of a plant (Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 267, Fif., Lth., Slk. 1971); also fig. of a tall, lean person (Bnff., Abd., Slk. 1971). [spɪrl]Bch. 1904 E.D.D.:
John's a lang lank spirl o' a cratur.