virl Now only Sc.
Forms: α. 5–6 vyroll (5 vyrolfe), virol. β. 5–6 vyral, 6 wyrall, viral(l. γ. 5 vyrille, vyr-, virelle, 6 wirrell, 9 virrel, 8– virl.
[a. OF. virol(e and virelle: see virole, verrel, and ferrule.]
A band of metal, ivory, or bone, placed round the end or some other part of a piece of wood, etc., to keep it from splitting or wearing; a ferrule.
| α c 1440 Promp. Parv. 510/2 Vyrolfe, of a knyfe (K. uirol, P. vyroll.), spirula. c 1450 Medulla (Cant. MS.), Toius est summitas templi eminens rotunditas, a bolle or a toppe or els a rownde vyrolle. 1530 Palsgr. 285/1 Vyroll, uirolle. 1580 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 319 Ane battirt..montit upoun ane auld stok, and hir axtre and quhelis garnysit with foure virols of irn. |
| β 1496 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 289 Item, for iij{supc} nalis to the wyndbandis and the vyralis, iiij s. 1503 Ibid. II. 389 Item, for sevin score viralis and diamandis for speris, ilk pece vj d. 1547 in N. & Q. 9th Ser. IX. 109/2 Item three staves, every of theym having a picke with two graynes at the nether end and a wyrall of Iron tynned. 1552 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) II. 539 One of the king's canes,..garnished with gold; and having at the end a viral of gold. |
| γ 14.. in Wr.-Wülcker 735 Hec spirula, a vyrille. 1482–4 Acc. Exch. K.R. 496/28 (Publ. Rec. Off.) Virelles Plates pro diversis poleys. 1483 Cath. Angl. 402/1 A vyrelle of a knyfe. 1511 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. IV. 272 Foure dusson of wirrellis with diamontis. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. i. i, A winsome flute, O' plum-tree made, wi' iv'ry virles round. 1787 Burns Brigs Ayr 84 Five taper staves as smooth's a bead, Wi' virls an' whirlygigums at the head. 1813 W. Tennant Anster Concert in Life (1861) I. 25 Braw flute, wi' ivory virls, man. 1890 Service Notandums 115, I gaed in to Willie Gaud's as I cam bye and got him to put a new virrel on my staff. |
| transf. 1823 Galt Gilhaize xii, He walked with slow and tottering steps, wearing a virl of fur round his neck. |
Hence
virled ppl. a., furnished with a virl or ferrule. Also
ˈvirlet, a small virl.
| 1793 Statist. Acc. Scot. IX. 371 The blade is..set in a haft of Tortoise-shell, or stained horn, girt with silver virlets. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie III. v. 35 An ivory headed cane virled with gold. 1842 D. Vedder Poems 227 A staff..Cut frae the gallows wood, Weel virled about wi' murderer's banes. |