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Added 10 October 2026

thirl

/θɝl/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about thirl at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A hole, an aperture, especially a nostril.
A low door in a dry-stone wall to allow sheep to pass through; a smoot.
A short communication between adits in a mine.

verb

To pierce; to perforate, penetrate, cut through.
To drill or bore; to cut through, as a partition between one working and another.

verb

To throw (a projectile).

verb

To legally bind (a tenant) to the use of one's own property as an owner.
To bind; to obligate to use or be associated with.

Origin

From Middle English thirl, thiril, from Old English þyrel (“hole”), from Proto-West Germanic *þurhil, from Proto-Germanic *þurhilą (“hole, opening”), from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h₂kʷelo- which is *tr̥h₂kʷe + *-lo, from *terh₂-. Related to thrill, drill. By surface analysis, through + -le.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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