~ 1 [ bə:l ]
■ noun
1》 a lump in wool or cloth.
2》 N. Amer. a rounded knotty growth on a tree.
Origin
ME: from OFr. bourle 'tuft of wool', dimin. of bourre 'coarse wool', from late L. burra 'wool'.
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~ 2 [ bə:l ]
■ noun Austral./NZ an attempt.
Origin
early 20th cent.: regional usage of birl .