Surr

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. A very rare term of uncertain meaning, found chiefly as a fragment or abbreviation in specialized or archaic writing
2. An obscure word seldom met in ordinary usage, often appearing as a shortened form of a longer term
3. A little-known and seldom-recorded word whose use is largely confined to specialized or historical contexts

Etymology: Surr is probably imitative, formed to echo a harsh, rushing or whirring sound. It seems to belong to the same family of dialect sound-words as "whirr", which is itself echoic. That family is the most likely source, but the exact link between it and surr is not well documented. The meaning "rare unclear fragment" is harder to trace. A sound-word for a buzzing or whirring noise could plausibly shift to something faint and indistinct, since the sense of a sound that is hard to make out is a natural extension. That step is an inference, though, and the records do not show it clearly.