[f. THIRL v.2 + -ING1.] A bringing into subjection or bondage.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 444. Rycht hevelie he buir into his hart The grit ouirthraw and thirling of his ring [= realm].
1871. A. S. Harvey, in Gd. Words, 615. As in the hosiery trade, so in the fishery, the ‘thirling’ begins with the boy, and is never subsequently thrown off.
b. Thirling mill, a mill to which certain lands, etc., are astricted in thirlage.
1773. Fergusson, Farmer’s Ingle, xi. How big a birn maun lie on bassie’s back, For meal and multure to the thirling mill.
1824. Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl., s.v. Thirlage, All [mills] erected by such compactions are thirling mills.
