NYT Dictionary

THIRLING

NounVerbAdvanced/Professional

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2023, 2025

Meaning

The act of boring or perforating

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English thurlunge, from Old English þȳrlung (“piercing”), verbal noun of þȳrlian (“to pierce”). Equivalent to thirl + -ing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2021, 2023, 2025.

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