Dainty Davy By The Dubliners

[ginvodka]

Hi,
Can anyone explain what "tirlie-wirlie", is/are, or the meaning of same. Have googled it but with no luck.


Many thanks

[ginvodka]

It was in an through the window broads,
And a tirlie wirlies o
The sweetest kiss that eer I got,
Was from my dainty Davie.

[jackthehat]

If you read through some of the alternative lyric versions here:

https://www.google.co.uk/#psj=1&;q=dainty+davey+lyrics&safe=off

it might provide some sort of clue...

[plowter]

tirlie-wirlies - lattice-work

Its a ditty by that scamp Rabbie Burns:
http://www.loveburns.co.uk/lyrics.html

and read by the lovely Siobhan Redmond here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/works/dainty_davie/

[Buenchico]

From the Oxford English Dictionary:
"ˈtirlie-ˈwhirlie n. a whirled figure, ornament, or pattern; anything having this form; a whirligig; a musical twirl or turn of the voice"