Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Birges, Birgis, n. Also: borgis; b(y)irdis, burdis. [From the name of Bruges in Flanders, altered by transposition of r to Burges, Birges: cf. Birge,n.]The more original forms of the place-name, Bruges or Brugis, are usual in Sc. records of the late 15th and 16th c. The transposition of r in Burges, etc., appears also in later occurrences of the name, e.g. In Handwarp, Burges, and the toun of Berrie; Maitl. F. xxxi. 23. In the tounes of Birges, Antwarp and vtheris; 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 386.

Birgis threde, thread of Bruges. (Cf. Birge 2.)(a) 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 64.
For j li. of Birgis threde to mend the vestamentis 1590 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 391.
For four hankis of birgis threid to mak frengȝes to the towall 1597 Bk. Rates 11 b.
Threid callit borgis threid the pund, v s. 1612 Bk. Rates 331.
Birges threid the dozen pound weght(b) 1567 Edinb. Test. I.* 33b.
Sex pund of birdis threid 1581 Ib. IX. 180.
v pund of burdis threid 1594 Ib. XXVII. 299.
Half ane quarter of quhyt byirdis threid buttounis