English

Noun

birr ‎(plural birrs)

1. force, vigor, energy
2. a strong wind.
3. the force of the wind; rush, impetus, momentum, driving force
4. a thrust or push
5. a whirring noise
   • 1916, Colonel J.A. Currie, “XVII The Battle of Neuve Chapelle”, in The Red Watch, With the First Canadian Division in Flanders, Reprint edition, Project Gutenberg, published 2009:

     When the British Tommies heard the "birr" of the five-inch Canadian shells they all asked whose they were.

6. a strong trilling pronunciation
   • 2011 April 24, Kevin McKenna, “Labour needs to challenge Alex Salmond – and quickly”, in The Guardian:

     Gray possesses an unfortunate East of Scotland birr that suggests a 21-year-old student interviewing for his first job.

Verb

birr ‎(third-person singular simple present birrs, present participle birring, simple past and past participle birred)

1. To make a whirring noise; make a noise like that of revolving wheels, or of millstones at work.

References

• Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, 1911
• Dictionary.com, birr

Etymology 2

From Amharic ብር ‎(bir, “silver”)

Pronunciation

Noun

birr ‎(plural birrs)

1. The currency of Ethiopia, divided into 100 santims

Synonyms

• ETB

French

Noun

birr m ‎(plural birrs)

1. birr (Ethiopian currency)

Spanish

Noun

birr m ‎(plural birrs)

1. birr (currency)