Birle

Origin

From Middle English birlen, from Old English byrelian ("to give or serve a drink to"), from byrele ("cup-bearer, steward, butler"), from Proto-Germanic *burilijaz ("carrier, manservant"), from *burjô ("descendant, son"), from Proto-Germanic *beraną ("to bear, carry"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-, *bʰrē- ("to bear"). Related to Old English byre ("son, offspring, youth"). More at bear.

Alternative forms

• birl

Full definition of birle

Verb

1. to pour a drink (for).
• c.1882-1898, Francis James Child (collector and editor), '', Number 68: "Young Hunting",She has birld in him Young Hunting
  The good ale and the beer,
  Till he was as fou drunken
  As any wild-wood steer.
2. to drink deeply or excessively, carouse.
• c.1882-1898, Francis James Child (collector and editor), '', Number 73: "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet",They birled, they birled at Annies wake
  The white bread and the wine,
  And ere the morn at that same time
  At his they birled the same.

Anagrams

• libre