Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Birst, Byrst, v. Also: byrste; p.t. and p.p. birst, byrst, birstit, byrstyt; p.p. birstin, birsyn. [Variant of Brist v., with transposition of r as in ME. berste(n, OE. berstan. Cf. also Burst v.]

1. intr. a. To burst; to give way and break. a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 280.
His balful bayly byrste in twa a1500 Henr. Orph. 128.
His hert ner birst for werray dule & wo c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 102.
For lawchtir neir I birst c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 139.
Thocht Codrus kyte suld cleue and birst 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 184/2.
I meruell … That I birst not, and in twa brekis my hart a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS cxxx. 52.
Thairfoir my hart will birst in two

b. To burst or flow out. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 171.
Nes, mouth, and eyn … all byrstyt owt off blud c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 345.
Neir my baret out birst or the band makin c1500-c1512 Id. lxxii. 35.
Quhill blude birst out at every vane 1533 Boece iii. xviii. 117.
Of new his ene birst out in teris a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxv. 13.
With … paine thir wordes skairs birst out

2. tr. To cause to burst or break; to rupture. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iv. 467.
Bathe bayne and brayn he byrst throw all the weid c1475 Ib. viii. 800.
Thai … Byrstyt helmys c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 83.
It breikis my hairt, and birstis my brane 1515 Treasurer's Accounts V. 44.
[Money] to by him ane hors, becaus his hors wes birstin in the Kingis service 1535 Stewart 6680.
Basnetis wer birstit quhill all the ruvis raue 15.. Christis K. 133 (M).
With bougaris of barns thai birst blew cappis 1596 Dalr. II. 328/12.
His heid [was] il birst and sair hurt

b. To send out with vigour. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 5.
Ane bird, on ane branche, so birst out hir notis That [etc.]