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. "I'll _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 s.h.i.+p; 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_ one's _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.