_To burl, burling; to shunt, &c._--In the report of the evidence regarding
the death of Mrs. Hathway, at Chipping Sodbury, supposed to have been
poisoned by her husband, the following dialectical expression occurs, which
may deserve notice. One of the witnesses stated that he was invited by Mr.
Hathway to go with him into a beer-house in Frampton Cotterell, "and have a
tip," but he declined.
"Mr. H. went in and called for a quart of beer, and then came out
again, and I went in. He told me 'to burl out the beer, as he was in a
hurry;' and I 'burled' out a glass and gave it to him."--_Times_, Feb.
28.
I am not aware that the use of this verb, as a provincialism, has been
noticed; it is not so given by Boucher, Holloway, or Halliwell. In the
Cumberland dialect, a _birler_, or _burler_, is the master of the revels,
who presides over the feast at a Cumberland bidden-wedding, and takes
especial care that the drink be plentifully provided. (_Westmoreland and
Cumberland Dialects_, London, 1839.)
Boucher and Jamieson have collected much regarding the obsolete use of the
verb _to birle_, to carouse, to pour out liquor. See also Mr. Dyce's notes
on _Elynour Rummyng_, v. 269. (_Skelton's Works_, vol. ii. p. 167.). It is
a good old Anglo-Saxon word--byrlian, _propinare_, _haurire_. In the
Wycliffite versions it occurs repeatedly, signifying to give to drink. See
the Glossary to the valuable edition lately completed by Sir F. Madden and
Mr. Forshall.