An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 75
/An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language
An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 75
_Minst. Border._
3. To drink plentifully, S.
_Douglas._
4. To club money for the purpose of procuring drink. "Ill _birle_ my bawbie," I will contribute my share of the expence; S.
_Ramsay._
In Isl. it is used in the first sense; _byrl-a_, infundere, miscere potum. In A. S. it occurs in sense third, _biril-ian_, _birl-ian_, haurire. Hence _byrle_, a butler. Isl. _byrlar_, id. _Birle_, O. E.
has the same signification.
_To_ BIRL, _v. n._
V. ~Birr~, _v._
BIRLAW-COURT, also BIRLEY-COURT.
V. ~Burlaw~.
BIRLEY-OATS, BARLEY-OATS, _s. pl._ A species of oats, S.
_Statist. Acc._
It seems to have received its name from its supposed resemblance to _barley_.
BIRLIE, _s._ A loaf of bread; S. B.
BIRLIN, _s._ A small vessel used in the Western Islands.
_Martin._
Probably of Scandinavian origin, as Sw. _bars_ is a kind of ship; and _berling_, a boat-staff, Seren. I am informed, however, that in Gael. the word is written _bhuirlin_.
_To_ BIRN, _v. a._ To burn.
V. ~Bryn~.
BIRN, BIRNE, _s._ A burnt mark; S.
_Acts Charles II._
_Skin and Birn_, a common phrase, denoting the whole of any thing, or of any number of persons or things; S. from A. S. _byrn_, burning.
_Acts Marie._
BIRN, _s._ A burden, S. B.
_Ross._
To _gie_ ones _birn a hitch_, to a.s.sist him in a strait, S. B.
_Poems Buchan Dial._
An abbreviation of A. S. _byrthen_, burden; if not from C. B.
_biorn_, onus, _byrnia_, onerare; Davies.
BIRNIE, BYRNIE, _s._ A corslet, a brigandine.
_Douglas._
A. S. _byrn_, _byrna_, Isl. _bryn_, _brynia_, Sw. _bringa_, thorax, lorica, munimentum pectoris; probably from Isl. _bringa_, pectus.
BIRNS, _s. pl._ Roots, the stronger stems of burnt heath, which remain after the smaller twigs are consumed; S.
A. S. _byrn_, incendium.
_Pennycuik._
BIRR, _s._ Force.
V. ~Beir~.
_To_ BIRR, _v. n._ To make a whirring noise, especially in motion; the same with _birle_, S.
V. ~Beir~, _s._
_Douglas._
_To_ ~Birl~, _v. n._
1. To "make a noise like a cart driving over stones, or mill-stones at work." It denotes a constant drilling sound, S.
_Popular Ball._
2. Used improperly, to denote quick motion in walking, Loth.