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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.

Barnehede, Bairnheid, n. Also: barnehed, -heid; barn(h)ede, -heid; bairneheid; bernhead, -heid, bearnehead. [ME. barnhede (c 1300), f. Barne n.]

1. Childhood, infancy. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 652.
Throw a custum of his barnehed Ib. vii. 394.
That seknes … He had of barnede c1420 Wynt. v. 119.
Till hys barnehede Was passyd, and entryde in manhede Ib. 144.
In tyll a buk off his barnhede 1456 Hay II. 75/11.
Fra his begynnyng of barnehede till that tyme c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 63/3.
All the charge of syn that he has done in his barnehed a1500 Doug. K. Hart 907.
Becaus that thow my barneheid kend 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 63.
Ane bassing and laver siclyk maid for hir in hir barneheid 1588 King Cat. 38.
Euer from my bairnheid 1596 Dalr. I. 235/19.
Frome his barneheid vpp Ib. II. 52/13.
A woman, brocht vp fra her barneheid sa tendirlie 1600-1610 Melvill 20.
Now almost past from the age of bernheid Ib. 119.
Till his bernhead was past 1657 Mure II. 253.
The king in his bearne head proponed to round with him

2. Childishness. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii.49.
Sic bairneheid biddis [?leiddis] my brydill renȝe