A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Burnis, Burneis, v. Also: burnys. [ME. burnys, bornys (14th c.), usually burnissh, -nyssh, etc., OF. burniss-, lengthened stem of burnir. See also Birnis v.] tr. To burnish, polish.1375 Barb. viii. 225.
Thair basnetis burnyst var all brycht Ib. xi. 189; etc.
Armys that new burnyst wer c1420 Wynt. viii. 2527.
On bassynettis thare burnysyd brycht Men mycht se polaxys lycht c1475 Wall. vi. 159.
The multitude with wappynys burnist beyne a1500 Rauf C. 462.
His basnet was bordourit and burneist bricht With stanis of beriall deir a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 601; Ib. 688.
His birny and his basnet, burnist ful bene 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 18.
This hart … With large hed, and tyndis burnyst fa[i]r 1535 Stewart 27625.
With fyve thousand hors, In curage [sic] cled, that burneist wes full bricht
