Obs. Also 4 viroun, 5 vyroun, vyrown, vyrne. [a. OF. viron (f. virer to turn), used as prep. or in the phr. en viron ENVIRON.]
1. Circuit, compass; a circling course. In the viron of, round about.
a. 1380. St. Augustine, 1221, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 82. Þe viroun [L. circulum] of þe wattres wondurliche He schewed.
1382. Wyclif, Judg. ii. 12. The sones of Yrael … folweden alien goddis, goddis of the puple that dwelten in the viroun of hem.
c. 1400. Arth. & Merl. (L.), 1616. Þe rede dragoun … Drof þeo white feor adoun In to þe pleynes a gret vyroun.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 510/2. Vyrne, or sercle,… girus, ambitus, circulus.
2. In viron, round about; = ENVIRON adv.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 311. In viroun and wiþinne þei weren ful of iȝen.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 107. Summe blewe so sore that the flaume up sprong Aboutyn hyr sydys even in vyroun.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 3196. [He must] serchen in market & town Abowtes’al this contre in vyrown. Ibid. (c. 1450), Grail, xlii. 46. Ȝit loked he bothe vppe and down Al abowtes that schipe in vyrown.
