Obs. exc. dial. and local. Forms: 1 þyrlian, þirlian, 2–4 þurle(n (ü), 3–4 þorle, 4 þerle, thirll, 4–5 therle, þirle, thurle, 4–7 thyrl(e, 4–8 thirle, 5 thorle, 5–6 thyrll, 7–9 thurl, 4– thirl. thirl. See also THRILL v.1 [OE. þyrlian, f. þýr(e)l THIRL sb.1: cf. MHG. dürkeln.]
1. trans. To pierce, to run through or into (a body) as a sharp-pointed instrument does; to pierce (anything) with such an instrument; to bore a hole in or through; to perforate.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. xxi. 6. Þirlie his eare mid anum æle.
c. 1205. Lay., 4541. Þer wes moni breoste mid brade spere i-þurlud [c. 1275 iþorled].
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 1151. He lette boþe þurlen his feet and honden.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1852. Namely oon That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. cvi. (Bodl. MS.). These wormes beþ icleped Terodenes for þey þorleþ & eteþ trees.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 925. They thurle a nutte, and stuffe hit so withynne With brymstoon, chaf, and cedria, this thre.
1578. in Scot. Poems 16th C. (1801), II. 127. Remember the speir that thirlit my hart.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, To Thirl, to bore a hole.
1706. Sibbald, Hist. Picts, in Misc. Scot., I. 118. Being thirled or pierced in many places.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Thirl, to pierce, to perforate.
1878. Cumbld. Gloss., Thirl, Thurl, to bore through.
† b. With the weapon or instrument as object.
a. 1400. Prymer (1891), 41. A spere in to his syde was therled of a knyȝt.
a. 1400. Stac. Rome, 568. There is … A thorne thyrlyd in crystis hed, when he suffyrde for us.
c. To make (a hole) by piercing, to bore. Obs.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXIV. ii. 244. The forcible and violent push of the Ram had thirled an hole through a corner-tower.
† d. To fix with a nail or the like; to transfix.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 2506. Thai … thirlid thaym to the crosse with one naille cruwelly.
e. fig. To ‘pierce.’
c. 1315. Shoreham, iv. 194. Hy beþ men,… Wyþ sennes al þorȝ-þerled.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xliv. 7. Þi wordis ere sharpe þat thirlis mennys thoghtis.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 394. The pytuous payn so sor thyrllyt his thocht.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S. T. S.), xviii. 34. Throw langour of my sueit So thirlit is my spreit.
1742. R. Forbes, Ajax, xxix. Whare now thy groans in dowy dens The yerd-fast stanes do thirle.
† 2. transf. To pass right through, penetrate, traverse (anything). Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 85. Þet corn þet þurleð þe wind, þet smal chef þet flið forð mid þe winde.
a. 1350. Peter & Paul, 492, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 70. Goddes sun now hardily es he; He thyrles heuyn.
1496. Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), I. xv. 47/2. The prayer of hym that loweth hym in his prayer thyrleth the clowdes.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., F ij b. The Meri otherwyse called Ysophagus … commeth out of the throte and thyrleth the mydryfe vnto y3 bely or stomacke.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xiv. 1. Rycht as þe glass bene thirlit thrut wt bemis Of Phebus … visage bricht.
† 3. To make a hole in (the earth); to excavate.
a. 1000. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 201/32. Cauantur, euacuantur, þyrliaþ.
1577. Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., in Holinshed (1808), VI. 9. The toad … began to thirle and as it were to dig the earth, where finding an hole, it slunke awaie.
4. spec. Coal Mining. To cut through (a wall of coal, etc.). Also absol. or intr.
1686, 1797. [cf. THIRLING vbl. sb.1 2].
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 987. The stenting walls 6 or 8 yards thick,… are holed or thirled at such a distance as may be most suitable for the state of the air.
1871. [see THIRL sb.1 4].
1881. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., s.v., We’n thirled out o’ our Top-end into Smith’s Level to-day.
1883. Gresley, Coal Mining Gloss., Thirl,… to cut away the last web of coals, etc., separating two headings or other workings.
† 5. intr. or absol. To pierce, penetrate (as a sharp instrument). Also fig. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 214. So thirlleþe with þe poynt of Rememberaunce Þe swerde of sorowe.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xxviii. (Bodl. MS.). Light is a bodilich substaunce … moste meuable and passinglich þorling. Ibid., IX. xix. Þis moneth [November] for his coldenes þorleþ inward and greueþ bodies wele sore.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. viii. 114. Quhill throu the cost thyrlit the deidly pryk. Ibid., XI. xvii. 26. A wofull wyfly cry Went to the starnys and thyrlyt throw the sky.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xv. 26. Ten thousand dairts … Thirlis throu my hevy hart.
† 6. intr. To pass through or penetrate (into or to a place or thing). Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21098 (Cott.). Thomas … soght þat estrin thede, And thirlid intil haiþen-hede.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IV. ii. (Tollem. MS.). Þat oon abideþ with blood, and þurleþ þerwith in to þe membris. Ibid., V. v. (Bodl. MS.). For þe spirite of siȝt may not þurle and come þereto, for þe lette þat is bitwene.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., III. (1567), 31. The piercing dart … Whereas the ioynts doe knit the backe it thirled through the skin.
7. = THRILL v.1 in various constructions. dial.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. ii. His words they thirle like music thro’ my heart.
1785. Burns, Epist. to J. Lapraik, iii. It thirl’d the heart-strings thro’ the breast, A’ to the life.
1819. R. Anderson, Cumbld. Ball., 60. A single luik will thirl ye thro; A single word ensnare ye!
1868. J. Salmon, Gowodean, I. iv. 27. Yon roof-tree, which had sae often dirled As Willie’s gladsome voice around it thirled.
Hence Thirled ppl. a.1, pierced, perforated.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 199. Neddre … cumeð to ane þurlede ston, and criepeð nedlinge þureh nerewe hole, and bileueð hire hude baften hire.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. cxcvi. (1495), X iv b/1. Not thyrllyd nother hoolyd.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 821. Their nasis thorlid wide and patent be.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xviii. 26. My thirlit hairt dois bleid.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 387. And now the pipes of thyrled box On euery side resound.
