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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1603
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Bird, Byrd, n.2 Also: birde, byrde, beird, burd. [Northern ME. bird, byrd, midl. and southern burde, berde, perh. representing OE. byrde well-born.] A lady, woman, maiden. (Only in poetry, as in ME., and freq. in alliteration.)a1500 Golagros and Gawane 134.
Than wes the syre in the saill, … And blith birdis hym about a1500 Ib. 1146.
Beirdis beildit in blise, brightest of ble a1500 Henr. III. 117/45.
Than will no bird be blyth of thé in bour c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 238.
That bird of my blis suld a bourd want a1568 Mersar Bannatyne MS 269 a/30.
Chryst keip thir birdis bricht in bowris Fra fals luvaris 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 279/21.
Was neuer bird sa blyith of hir brydgrome a1568 Scott xv. 23.
Kissing … my bab, my tendir bird a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 146.
The virgine myilde, That blissed bird Marie a1585 Montg. a1585 Ib. lxiii. 12.
The blythest bird of bewtie maist bening 1603 Philotus xxxi.
My bonie burd 1603 Ib. cxxxvi.
Ȝe trowit to get ane burd of blisse
