Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bere, Beir, n.¹ Also: ber. [ME. beer(e, bere. OE. bera.] A bear.(a) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 173.
Thar is no ber so fell c1420 Wynt. vi. 1160.
His body … till a bere wes mast lykly 1456 Hay II. 23/15.
To hunt … at … bere and baare Ib. 157/20.
Sum is … suere as a bere 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 22.
So loud ne rumyst wyld lyoun or ber(b) 1549 Compl. 73/22.
The beiris, lyons, … and dogis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 62.
The howlat sall leid the beir to his bane 1586 Treas. Acc. MS. 52 b.
To by ane chenȝie to his bienes beir 1622-6 Bisset I. 28/33.
The wyld beistis, sik as … foxis, beiris, bairis

b. In the phr. to bind beris. c1420 Wynt. ix. 991.
Letand that he suld beris bynd. Mycht he on feld the Scottis fynd c1500 Crying of Play 8.
A gyand strang … That with the strenth of my hand Beres may bynd