borrel

See also: bőrrel

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɒɹəl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔɹəl/, /ˈbɑɹəl/
• Rhymes: -ɒɹəl

Etymology 1

Compare Old French burel (“reddish”) or French beurré (“butter pear”).

Noun

borrel (plural borrels)

1. A sort of pear with a smooth soft pulp; a red butter pear.

Etymology 2

Probably from burel (“coarse woolen cloth”).

Alternative forms

• burrel

Adjective

borrel (comparative more borrel, superlative most borrel)

1. (obsolete) Ignorant, unlearned; belonging to the laity, a mean fellow.
   • 1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC; republished as The Shepheardes Calender […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], 1586, →OCLC:

     Siker thou speak'st like a lewd sorrel,
     Of heaven, to deemen so:
     Howbe I am but rude and borrel,
     Yet nearer ways I know.

Anagrams

• Lorber

Dutch

Etymology

Diminutive of Middle Dutch borre, borne (“well, drinkwater”). Compare bron (“well”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɔ.rəl/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: bor‧rel

Noun

borrel m (plural borrels, diminutive borreltje n)

1. a shot of an alcoholic drink such as rum or gin; a tot
2. an informal, often impromptu reception or meetup, typically involving alcoholic drinks

Derived terms

• avondborrel
• borrelen
• borrelnoot
• vrijdagmiddagborrel