hirsel

1 of 3

noun

hir·​sel
variants or less commonly hirsle
ˈhirsəl
plural -s
1
Scottish : a flock of sheep
2
Scottish : the land grazed by a flock of sheep
like a poor lamb that has wandered from its own native hirsel—Sir Walter Scott
3
Scottish : a large number or quantity : multitude

hirsel

2 of 3

transitive verb

variants or less commonly hirsle
"
hirseled or hirselled also hirsled; hirseled or hirselled also hirsled; hirseling or hirselling also hirsling; hirsels also hirsles
Scottish
: to arrange in or as if in flocks

hirsel

3 of 3

verb

variants or less commonly hirsle
"
hirseled or hirselled also hirsled; hirseled or hirselled also hirsled; hirseling or hirselling also hirsling; hirsels also hirsles

intransitive verb

1
Scottish : to move along a surface awkwardly : slither
2
Scottish : to move clumsily or with difficulty : scramble
3
Scottish : to move with a rustling or grating noise

transitive verb

Scottish : to cause to move awkwardly or with difficulty

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hirsill, from Old Norse hirzla, hirthsla safekeeping, custody, from hirtha to guard sheep, from hirthir shepherd

Verb

origin unknown

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Rhymes for hirsel

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Browse Nearby Words

hirple
hirsel
hirst
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Cite this Entry

“Hirsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hirsel. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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