vire

n. [ F. virelai; virer to turn + lai a song, a lay. ] An ancient French song, or short poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed in short lines, with a refrain. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of such matter made he many lays,
Songs, complains, roundels, virelayes. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

To which a lady sung a virelay. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and, after employing one for some time, the poet was virer, or to turn, to the other.” Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. virens, p. pr. of virere to be green. ] Green; not withered. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., a species of bird. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of American singing birds belonging to Vireo and allied genera of the family Vireonidae. In many of the species the back is greenish, or olive-colored. Called also greenlet. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the Eastern United States the most common species are the white-eyed vireo (Vireo Noveboracensis), the red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus), the blue-headed, or solitary, vireo (Vireo solitarius), the warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus), and the yellow-throated vireo (Vireo flavifrons). All these are noted for the sweetness of their songs. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) The act or state of becoming green through the formation of chlorophyll. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. virescens, p. pr. of virescere to grow green, verb incho. fr. virere to be green. ] Beginning to be green; slightly green; greenish. [ 1913 Webster ]