Wordie [wûrd • ē]
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6 wordies list
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first listed by:
rivets (64 words)
appears in these lists:
rivets's Words, by rivets
Piping, by chained_bear
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"GOAL Celtic 2-2 Rangers Scott McDonald again. He birls in the Rangers box and hits a great shot that deflects off Broadfoot's, erm, foot and spins over the top of helpless Alexander. Rangers pay for slack play."
- football commentary page on BBC website, 27 April 2008.
Now that I think about it, birl also meant "to attempt", especially when encouraging someone else.
eg. "Go on, give it a birl."
I reckon that's a contraction and ozzification of barreling, bilby.
In fact that could be the origin of the log-riding, too.
In Australia the sense is - or at least was, because I haven't heard this for a long time - to travel quickly.
"He was birling along the highway doing ninety."
I live in Canada, this is how I get to work each day.