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.
Quotation dates: 1400-1499, 1597-1615
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Birlaw, Birla(y, n. Also: byrlaw; burlaw, burla. Also occasional north-eastern variant: barla. [e.m.E. byerlaw, ME. byrelawe (1483), birlawe (1292), birelaȝe (1257), app. ON. *býjar-lǫg town-law. Forms in -lay, -ley also occur in e.m.E.; cf. Birlawman n.] Birlaw court, a neighbourhood court for the settlement of differences or complaints. Also attrib. with officer.14.. Acts I. 277/2.
Cetera omnia … que current in curiis dominorum secundum auxilium et fauorem terminantur exceptis burlawis que per consensum vicinorum concurrunt1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Burlaw.
Lawes of Burlaw are maid, and determined be consent of nichtbors, elected and chosen be common consent, in the courtes, called the Byrlaw courts, in the quhilk cognition is taken of complaints betuixt nichtbour & nichtbour 1602 Colville Parænese Ep. 23.
As far … exceding your Synods as a gret parlament doth exceid a poor birla court 1608 Melrose R. Rec. I. 72.
Tua forcementis gevein up be him maid to Hob Maben, burla officer, be Androw Davidsone1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 74 b.
Birlaw courts … are rewled be consent of neighbours 1609 Hume 181/598.
Civill men haif your Assembleis ower justlie in derisioun and contempt, comparing them to Birlay courtis, where is much jangling1615 Misc. Spald. C. V. 218.
The barla court of ane honorabill man, Alexr Skene
