Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • See scur.
  • noun A tern or sea-swallow.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb Archaic To ramble over in order to clear; to scour.
  • intransitive verb Archaic To scour; to scud; to run.
  • noun (Zoöl.), Prov. Eng. A tern.

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

  • verb intransitive To leave hastily; to flee, especially with a whirring sound
  • verb transitive To search about in, scour
  • verb to pass over quickly, skim
  • noun UK, dialect A tern.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word skirr.

Examples

  • October 12, 2008 4: 28 am well – skirr is well used in Scotland.

    Save the language! « Write Anything 2008

  • Also on the list is the word skirr, which means to go rapidly or fly.

    KeysNews.com - 2008

  • It is apodeictic that, while perhaps obscure, words like "skirr" and "periapt" serve uniquely expressive purposes and cannot be subrogated by other, more commonplace words.

    A malison on the poor of spirit. Angry Professor 2008

  • It is apodeictic that, while perhaps obscure, words like "skirr" and "periapt" serve uniquely expressive purposes and cannot be subrogated by other, more commonplace words.

    Archive 2008-10-01 Angry Professor 2008

  • A rattlesnake sounding its harsh "skirr" under the chair on which the stranger is sitting could not cause him to start up more abruptly than he does, when Borlasse says: --

    The Death Shot A Story Retold Mayne Reid 1850

  • Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has adopted "skirr" and actor Stephen Fry is championing the survival of "fubsy."

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2008

  • It is apodeictic that, while perhaps obscure, words like "skirr" and "periapt" serve uniquely expressive purposes and cannot be subrogated by other, more commonplace words.

    A Gentleman's C Angry Professor 2008

  • Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has adopted "skirr" and actor Stephen Fry is championing the survival of "fubsy."

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2008

  • Of course, he’s also a ham, and likes to summon the skirr of the bagpipes with his accent at strategic social moments.

    Peter Pouncey - An interview with author 2010

  • The old woman continued to muse aloud, a monotonous irritating sound, while Elizabeth thought concentratedly, startled once, when she heard the winding-engine chuff quickly, and the brakes skirr with a shriek.

    The Prussian Officer and Other Stories 2003

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • (Noun) A grating, rasping, or whirring sound. (Verb) To run hastily (away); to flee, make off. To move, run, fly, sail, etc., rapidly or with great impetus. Sometimes implying a whirring sound accompanying the movement.

    February 12, 2008

  • Appears connected to scurry, ya?

    September 23, 2008