An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

To PIRL, v. n. To whirl, S. A.
V. [Birle].
J. Nicol.

PIRL-GRASS, s. Creeping wheat-grass, S.
Stat. Acc.

PIRLIE-PIG, PURLIE-PIG, s. A circular earthen vessel, which has no opening save a slit at the top, no larger than to receive a halfpenny; used by children for keeping their money, S. B. Pinner-pig, S. O.

Perh. q. birlie-pig, from A. S. birl-ian, to drink; as forming a common stock. Pinner may be allied to Teut. penne-waere, merx; Dan. penger, money.

PIRN, s.
1. A quill, or reed, S.
Stat. Acc.
2. The yarn wound on a reed, S.
Ruddiman.
3. To wind one a pirn, to make a person repent his conduct.
Ramsay.
4. To redd a ravell'd pirn, to clear up something difficult, or to get free of some entanglement, S.
Shirrefs.

Isl. prion-a, to weave.

Pirn, s. The wheel of a fishing-rod, S.
Sir J. Sinclair.

Pirnyt, Pyrnit, part. pa. Striped with different colours.
Douglas.

Pirnie, adj. Having unequal threads, or different colours, S.
Cleland.

Isl. prion, lanificium textile.