Meanings
interjection
alternative tiralee
- A verbal imitation of a musical sound, such as of the note of a lark or a horn.
The lark, that tirra-lyra chants,
c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]1 more example
From the bank, and from the river, / He flashed into the crystal mirror, / "Tirra lirra, tirra lirra," / Sang Sir Launcelot.
1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “The Lady of Shalott”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, part the third, page 15
Origin
Imitative.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
tirralirra. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tirralirra
MLA
“tirralirra.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tirralirra. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tirralirra,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tirralirra.
Source: tirralirra on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.