Where does “birl” come from?

birl (English) comes from Middle English birlen, from Old English byrelian, from Proto-Germanic burilijaz, from Proto-Germanic burjô, from Proto-Germanic beraną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

birl (English): To spin; To cause to rotate by treading on it;...

Definitions

  1. To spin; To cause to rotate by treading on it;...

Ancestry of “birl”, step by step

birl traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English birlen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishbirlento strike
2Old Englishbyrelianto give or serve a drink to
3Proto-Germanicburilijazcarrier, manservant
4Proto-Germanicburjôdescendant, son; sprout, descendant, offshoot
5Proto-Germanicberanąto carry, to bear
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

via English boy

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishboyA young male; A male child: a son of any age; A...
2Middle Englishboyeservant, commoner, knave, boy
3Old Englishbōiaboy
4Proto-Germanicbōjôyounger brother, young male relation
5Proto-Germanicbō-A stem meaning "father, brother, close male...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰā-to say

via English Girl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGirlA Chinese constellation located near Aquarius, one of the 28 lunar mansions and part of the Black Turtle
2Middle EnglishgirleAlternative form of gerle
3Old Englishgyreleyoung person
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr-