thirl Meaning & Definition
What Does Thirl Mean?
As a noun, thirl means A hole, an aperture, especially a nostril. It is also used to mean A low door in a dry-stone wall to allow sheep to pass through; a smoot. As a verb, it means To pierce; to perforate, penetrate, cut through. As a verb, it means To throw (a projectile).
Word Facts for Thirl
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /θɝl/ |
| Plural | thirls |
| Verb forms | thirls, thirling, thirled |
Thirl Definition (Noun)
- A hole, an aperture, especially a nostril.
- A low door in a dry-stone wall to allow sheep to pass through; a smoot.
- A short communication between adits in a mine.
- A long adit in a coalpit.
Thirl as a Verb
- To pierce; to perforate, penetrate, cut through.
- To drill or bore; to cut through, as a partition between one working and another.
Verb
- To throw (a projectile).
Verb
- To legally bind (a tenant) to the use of one's own property as an owner.
- To bind; to obligate to use or be associated with.
Noun
- A thrall.
Synonyms of Thirl
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Thirl synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
thirl (plural thirls)
thirl (third-person singular simple present thirls, present participle thirling, simple past and past participle thirled)
Words That Rhyme With Thirl
Origin of Thirl
Origin 1: From Middle English thirl, thiril, from Old English þyrel (“hole”), from Proto-West Germanic *þurhil, from Proto-Germanic *þurhilą (“hole, opening”), from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h₂kʷelom which is perhaps *tŕ̥h₂kʷe (from *terh₂- + *-kʷe; ancestral to through) + *-(e)lo- (deriving agent and instrument nouns; compare -le). Related to thrill, drill. By surface analysis, through + -le.
Origin 2: From Middle English thirlen, thurlen, thorlen, from Old English þȳrlian (“to pierce”), from the noun (see above). Doublet of thrill.
Origin 3: Uncertain. Perhaps a blend of throw + hurl.
Origin 4: Dialectal alteration of thrall.
Quick Answers About Thirl
Is thirl a noun or a verb?
Thirl is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is the plural of thirl?
The plural of thirl is thirls.
What is the past tense of thirl?
The past tense of thirl is thirled. The present participle is thirling.