Lirt

From Middle English lirten, lurten ("to cheat"), from Old English *lyrtan (found only in belyrtan ("to deceive")), from Proto-Germanic *lurtijaną ("to deceive"), from Proto-Indo-European *lerd- ("to bend, crook"). Cognate with Scots lirt ("to cheat, deceive, delude"), Middle High German lürzen ("to deceive"), Middle High German lerz, lurz, lorz ("left, left-handed"), Old English lort, lyrt ("crooked").

Alternative forms

• lirte

Full definition of lirt

Verb

1. (transitive, UK dialectal) To deceive; beguile.
2. (transitive, UK dialectal) To cheat; befool.

Derived terms

• belirt

Noun

1. (UK dialectal) Deception; guile.
2. (UK dialectal) A cheat; a go-by.

Origin obscure. Perhaps alteration of lirk ("to jerk").

Verb

1. (transitive, UK dialectal) To toss.
2. (intransitive, UK dialectal) To walk or move in a quick, lively, or pert manner.
3. (intransitive, UK dialectal) To gambol; frisk.