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: 1375-1438, 1499-1500, 1567-1568
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Byrd(e, Bird, p.t. Also: burd(e. [Northern ME. bird (midl. burd, burde), early ME. birrde (Orm), OE. (ᵹe)byrede, p.t. of (ᵹe)byrian to belong to, befit.]
1. impers. It behoves (one). 1375 Barb. vi. 316 (E).
Thai … said thaim [C. thai] byrd on na maner Drede thair fayis a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 1106.
Full sare vs bird to mone To this Paule a1400 Ib. xvii. 152; etc.
Me byrd be blyth that sycht to se ?1438 Alex. ii. 1757.
Alexander hes sworne … That him worthy bird to be; His eldars war of sik bounte
2. intr. (One) ought (to). a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxviii. 31.
Ȝunge men, ȝe byrd wel knaw Of lordis the fellone law ?1438 Alex. ii. 259.
He burde be douchty in ane thrang ?1438 Ib. 1250; etc.
Thow art nocht sic that thow bird blame The king a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 160.
Thow byrd to haue nurtour aneuch a1500 Doug. King Hart 567.
Th ow bird think schame and of thy riot rew a1568 Scott xxi. 29.
Cupeid, thow kennis I burd to knau The langsum leving in thy law
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"Byrd p.t.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/byrde>
