Contests were based on the ability to balance on a floating log and spinning it with one’s feet, while throwing off an opponent a skill known as birling, or logrolling.    From Wordnik.com.  [THE AMERICAN WEST] Reference

"No," I disclaimed, "this is a better sight than a birling match.".    From Wordnik.com.  [Americans All Stories of American Life of To-Day] Reference

"By the way, did you fellows ever square up on that birling match?".    From Wordnik.com.  [Americans All Stories of American Life of To-Day] Reference

Why was the sympathy of the crowd with Jimmy Powers in the birling match?.    From Wordnik.com.  [Americans All Stories of American Life of To-Day] Reference

Have I never been in a birling in my life — never known the Sound of Mull, the Isles of.    From Wordnik.com.  [Chronicles of the Canongate] Reference

"That means," he said, "that some of their great men are birling at the wine within, and will little like to be disturbed.".    From Wordnik.com.  [Red Cap Tales Stolen from the Treasure Chest of the Wizard of the North] Reference

They were hanging on to each other with rather less determination than the sets of dancers birling in circles on the floor.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Distant Echo]

In some regions, birling contests were advertised as an annual attraction, and drew contestants out of the woods from surrounding states.    From Wordnik.com.  [THE AMERICAN WEST] Reference

It was not the custom of the time, but her Grace had introduced into her Highland court the practice of withdrawing the ladies for some time after dinner, and leaving the men to their birling of the wine, as they phrased it.    From Wordnik.com.  [Doom Castle] Reference

While this was passing, the birling had drawn close to the boat; and.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Scottish Chiefs] Reference

Na, na, chap, we are no ganging to the laird's, but to a blithe birling at the.    From Wordnik.com.  [Redgauntlet] Reference

New this year is birling, a competition that involves balancing on logs floating in pools of water.    From Wordnik.com.  [WCAX - Local News] Reference

It was blithe and heartsome to go birling to Skeighan in the train; it was grand to jouk round Barbie on the nichts at e'en!.    From Wordnik.com.  [The House with the Green Shutters] Reference

Not long, ye would think, with men like Ardshiel in exile and men like the Red Fox sitting birling the wine and oppressing the poor at home.    From Wordnik.com.  [Kidnapped] Reference

Full of terror, Murray and Edwin threw themselves into a birling, to seek their friends upon the seas; and when they did espy them, the joy of Edwin was so great, that not even the unfathomable gulf could stop him from flying to the embrace of his friend.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Scottish Chiefs] Reference

It was told in the "persecuting" lore of the parish that the great "Peden the Prophet" had often used it as a pulpit, his congregation being seated round the semi-circle and the Mays Water birling and singing handily below in case of children to be baptized.    From Wordnik.com.  [Patsy] Reference

"Ye'll no be pinched to find out Johnie Mortsheugh," said the elder sibyl, and still her withered cheek bore a grisly smile; "he dwells near the Tod's Hole, an house of entertainment where there has been mony a blythe birling, for death and drink-draining are near neighbours to ane anither.".    From Wordnik.com.  [The Bride of Lammermoor] Reference

I was just naturally savin 'him for the birling match next Fourther July. ".    From Wordnik.com.  [Americans All Stories of American Life of To-Day] Reference

Jumping, dancing, birling, swirling and skirling, some swinging their partners around as in Strip the Willow, others trying the crazy dance steps they’d seen on the television.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Small Death in the Great Glen] Reference

Na, na, chap, we are no ganging to the laird’s, but to a blithe birling at the Brokenburn-foot, where there will be mony a braw lad and lass; and maybe there may be some of the laird’s folks, for he never comes to sic splores himsell.    From Wordnik.com.  [Redgauntlet] Reference

“he dwells near the Tod’s Hole, an house of entertainment where there has been mony a blythe birling, for death and drink-draining are near neighbours to ane anither.”.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Bride of Lammermoor] Reference

Was birling at the wine.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Bon Gaultier Ballads] Reference

Sat birling at the wine.    From Wordnik.com.  [Brown Robin] Reference

Were birling in the ha’.    From Wordnik.com.  [Baby Livingston] Reference

"That's birling a log," said he to Bobby.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Adventures of Bobby Orde] Reference

8 hr 42 min ago, -1/+3Wullie Wallace will be birling in his grave!.    From Wordnik.com.  [Original Signal - Transmitting Digg] Reference

Glaze placed fourth in log birling.    From Wordnik.com. Reference

1.2: ‘birling,’ drinking: cf.    From Wordnik.com.  [Ballads of Romance and Chivalry Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - First Series] Reference