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.
Burreour, Burriour, n. Also: buriour, bur(r)ior, burieor, burrier. [f. Burreau, by addition of agent suffix.] = Burreau.(a) 1533 Boece v. iv. 171 b.
Thevis, reiffaris & sornaris … war deliuerit to the burreoure to be slane 1533 Bell. Livy I. 137/4.
Thir burreouris come to punys thir conspiratouris, and quhen the said burreouris had scurgeit thame with wandis thai straik of thare hedis with ane ax 1578 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 31.
That the commoune burreour sall slay and distroye all the swyne … found without ane house(b) 15.. Clar. iii. 464.
Sum burriouris ȝe sall gar cum ȝow to, And I sall caus … That scho be taine and slaine a1578 Pitsc. II. 135/19.
Thair efter they sought burieoris and … towis to bind him 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xii.
Thir catiff miscreants … As buriors has euer bene Ib. xxvi.
Ȝe bludsheders and buriours all 1603 Moysie 124.
He wald be cald bot a burrior to have brocht thame to the skaffold 1619 Calderwood vii. 378.
Sould ye be burriores of your brethren? 1629 Boyd Last B. 158.
Cannot God appoint them to bee his own executioners, for to bee burriors to themselues? c1680 W. Row Blair 456.
This he did … to stir up the Secret Council to be his executioners and burriers
