Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb to pour a drink (for).
  • verb to drink deeply or excessively, carouse.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb cause a floating log to rotate by treading

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English birlen, from Old English byrelian ("to give or serve a drink to"), from byrele ("cup-bearer, steward, butler"), from Proto-Germanic *burilijaz (“carrier, manservant”), from *burjô (“descendant, son”), from Proto-Germanic *beranan (“to bear, carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-, *bʰrē- (“to bear”). Related to Old English byre ("son, offspring, youth"). More at bear.

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