nose-thirl, † nose-thrill Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: α. 4–6 (9) nose-thurl, (5 -thurll), 4–6 (9) -thyrl, 4–6 thirl, 4 -therl. (Also 5 noos-, 4–5 noose-, 6 Sc. nois-.) β. 4–6 nose-thryl, (5–6 -thryll, 6 -thrylle), 4–7 -thrill, (5 -þrill), 6–7 -thril, 6 -threl(l. γ. 5 nosetril, 6 -trel(l; 5 -sterl, 6 -strell, 7 -strill.
[f. nose n. + thirl n., a new comb. in place of OE. nosþyrel nostril n., to which the γ-forms show some assimilation: compare the parallel ME. formation nese-thirl. The β-forms are very common from c 1400 to 1600.]
A nostril.
| α c 1340 Nominale (Skeat) 20 Nose gristul and nose-thurles. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 559 His nose-thurles blake were and wyde. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 234 Who-so hath the noose-thurlis moche opyn, he is strongly angry. 1480 Caxton's Trevisa i. xxii. (1527) 20 Sponges watred and holden at theyr nosethyrles. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 110 Thair nois thirlis can nouther sauer nor smell. 1856 P. Thompson Hist. Boston 716 Nose-thurls, the nostrils. 1866 J. E. Brogden Linc. Words s.v., He is very broad in the nose-thurles. |
| β 1382 Wyclif Num. xi. 20 To the tyme that it come out bi ȝoure noose thrillis. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7727 He neyt as a nagge, at his nose thrilles! 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 151 His nosethrylles large & ample. 1534 Fitzherb. Husb. §84 Pursy is a dysease in an horses bodye,..and appereth at his nosethrilles. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. xii. xx. (1886) 227 Conveied through the nosethrels and mouth. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 13 Snuffing and drawing back their wind inwardly at their broken nose⁓thrils. 1656 Heylin Surv. France 132 Not yielding the least offence to the most curious nosethrill. |
| attrib. 1632 tr. Bruel's Praxis Med. 8 An oyntment..wherewith anoynt the forehead & nose-thrill holes. |
| γ c 1400 Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) I. 185 Sponges i-watred and i-holde at hir nostrilles [MS. α, nosetrils]. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 115 A nose þat hauys nosesterles oft greuant, & harde openynge. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 132 Powre..into the chyldes nosetrelles of oyle of castorium. a 1569 A. Kingsmill Man's Est. xii. (1580) 87 Wee have but borrowed breathe and that liyng in our nosetrels. a 1617 Bayne Lect. (1634) 105 Icekles hanging at his Nosestrills. |