skirl
/skɜɹl/verb, noun
skirl is spelled S-K-I-R-L: 5 letters. It appears about once in every 49 million words in written English, the 217,360th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, skirl means “To make a shrill sound, as of bagpipes” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in skirl?
| Letters | 5: S-K-I-R-L |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 49 million words; the 217,360th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is skirl?
Skirl appears about once in every 49 million words in written English, the 217,360th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce skirl?
- UK /skɜːl/
- US /skɜɹl/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-skirl.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with skirl?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as skirl from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹl/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of skirl
- skirls present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- skirling participle, present
- skirled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does skirl mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
ScotlandTo make a shrill sound, as of bagpipes.
- 2
Alternative form of shirl.
noun
- 1
ScotlandA shrill sound, as of bagpipes.
- 2
A blast (of wind-blown snow or rain); a gust (especially if accompanied by snow or rain, or a shill or whistling sound).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does skirl come from?
Originally from Scots and Northern English dialects (as a verb), probably of Old Norse origin; ultimately imitative.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).