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Glite Dictionary
birling

birling

9.9
A sport where a person balances on a floating log and makes it spin in water
  • noun
  • Jargon
translation icon : logrolling
  • Hundreds gathered at the river to watch the annual birling championship.

Examples

  • She practiced birling every weekend to improve her balance and technique.

  • Many consider birling both an exciting sport and an impressive display of agility.

  • He enjoys birling on weekends.

  • The birling competition was exciting!

  • Hundreds gathered at the river to watch the annual birling championship.

  • Many consider birling both an exciting sport and an impressive display of agility.

  • The birling competition was exciting!

Synonyms

logrolling
vsbirling
  • US
9.2

Balancing on a floating log while it rolls in the water

means the same thing and is an alternate name for the sport

How Active

birling
  • Jargon
9.9
sport
∞ 1.0
game
∞ 1.0
pastime
59 2.0

Surface Forms

birling singular
birlings plural

Morphology

birling = birl (semi-transparent) = birl + ing

Formed regularly from the verb 'birl' with -ing, but the verb is rare/dialectal and learners unfamiliar with 'birl' may not infer the specific activity meaning.

Etymology

Birling comes from a Scottish word birl, which means 'to spin', like when you 'twirl' or 'whirl' something. So birling is the sport of standing on a log and making it turn fast on the water.