birr

Meanings

1. Strength, vigor, energy.
2. The force of movement; rush, impetus, momentum, driving force.
3. A whirring noise.
4. A strong trilling.

1. To make a whirring noise; make a noise like that of revolving wheels, or of millstones at work.
2. To lurch or set to spinning.

1. The currency of Ethiopia, divided into 100 santims.

1. A surname.
2. A community in Middlesex Centre municipality, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada.
3. A town in County Offaly, Ireland, originally named Parsonstown (Irish grid ref N 0605).
4. A municipality in Aargau canton, Switzerland.

Etymology

From Middle English bir (“favorable or strong wind”), from Old English byre (“strong wind, storm”); cognate with Norwegian Nynorsk bør, Icelandic byrr (“sailing winds”), Albanian borë (“snow”), and Polish burza (“storm, thunderstorm”).