tirra-lirra
(ˈtɪrəˈlɪrə)
Also 7 teery-larry, -lerry, -leery, tyra-lyra. Cf. tiralee.
[Echoic. Cf. OF. turelu, tureluru, ‘a comic or burlesque refrain’ (Godefroy), turelure a bagpipe, a refrain, F. turlut a titlark; and quot. 1889.]
A representation of the note of the skylark, or of a similar sound uttered as an exclamation of delight or gaiety.
| 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iii. 9 The Larke, that tirra-Lyra chaunts. 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. v, The Larke..With the shrill chanting of her teery-lerry. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 310/2 The Lark singeth Tyra Lyra. 1832 Tennyson Lady of Shalott iii. iv, ‘Tirra lirra’, by the river Sang Sir Lancelot. 1889 Grove Dict. Mus. IV. 805/1 Ture-Lure, or Toure-Loure, a very ancient lyrical burden or refrain, probably of Provencal origin. The old English form is ‘tirra-lirra’. |
Hence as v. intr., to sing tirra-lirra; † tirriˈlirring ppl. a., that sings tirra-lirra; † tiry-tiry-leerer, a lark.
| 1659 Torriano, Tirilirante lódola, the Tiriliring lark. 1599 T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 50 Let Tiry-tiry-leerers [marg. larkes] vpward flie. 1879 G. Meredith in New Q. Mag. July 83 Duchess Susan was distinguished coming across a broad, uncut meadow, tirra-lirraing beneath a lark. |