birl

[prettygoodword]

birl (BURL) - (UK) v., to rapidly spin or make spin; (northern NA) to cause (a floating log) to rotate rapidly by treading on it.


That last is lumberjack jargon, and honestly given the UK connection I'd expect it to be used in Canada as well as the US, but I'm not seeing mention of it -- if anyone can confirm a Canuck sighting, I'd appreciate it. (ETA: confirmed, see comments) I first met the term as an event in lumberjack competitions (I was channel surfing), in which two people stand at the ends of a floating log and try to get the other to fall off by birling it. The spin sense dates to around 1720, and is speculated to be a blend of birr, the onomatopoeia for a whirling sound, and whirl.

---L.

Comments

[tellitslant]

In possibly the most Canadian cultural artefact: https://youtu.be/upsZZ2s3xv8?si=i7j7Fw9z5TgQSxzb

[movingfinger]

I got "unavailable in your country" on that link. This one should work for Larry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMPep2lm__4

[conuly]

Damn, double ninja'd.

[prettygoodword]

That's definitely a Canadian artifact documenting its use! 🎶He goes birling, birling down the white water🎶

[full_metal_ox]

Canadian qinggong!

(And now I’m wondering if birl-a-squirrel bird feeder barriers are a thing.)

[jesse_the_k]

If not yet you've got the marketing even before the patent!