Thirl
/θɜːrl/noun
A dialect word meaning to pierce, bore, or make a hole.
Did you know?Thirl is an old English dialect descendant of the same Germanic root that gave us **through**, **thorough**, and **thrill**, all tied to the idea of piercing or passing through.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ter-
“to rub, twist, bore, or pierce”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*thurhjaną
“to pierce through, bore”
Old English
OE
þyrlian
“to pierce, perforate”
Middle English
ME
thirl(en)
“to pierce, make a hole”
Modern English
English
thirl
“to pierce or bore; in dialect use, to make a hole”