drill

drill · verb, noun¹

1. Middle Dutch · derived fromdrillen“bore, move in a circle”
2. English todaydrill

From Middle Dutch drillen (“bore, move in a circle”).

drill · noun, verb²

Perhaps the same as Etymology 3; compare German Rille which can also mean "small furrow".

drill · noun, verb³

Uncertain. Compare the same sense of trill, and German trillen, drillen. Attestation predates Etymology 1.

drill · verb⁴

1. Middle English · inherited fromdrillen“to delay, defer, put off”
2. English todaydrill

From Middle English drillen (“to delay, defer, put off”), of origin unknown.

drill · noun⁵

] Source unknown. Probably of African origin; compare mandrill.

drill · noun⁶

1. German · derived fromDrillich“denim, canvas, drill”
2. English todaydrill

From German Drillich (“denim, canvas, drill”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 2010s A style of trap music with gritty, violent lyrics, originating on the South Side of Chicago.