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: 1487, 1565-1570
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Birning irne, n. Also: birnyng; yrne. [Northern ME. birnynge yrne (1483). Cf. Burning irne.] A branding iron. (Cf. Birn irne,n.) 1487 Acts II. 179/1.
A birnyng irne to mark the samyn [barrel] 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 499.
The making of the birnyng irne to the fourletis 1566 Protocol Book of Thomas Johnsoun 102.
Thre birnyng irnes to nolt and scheip 1570 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 23.
That … euer ilk couper mark his barrell with his awin birning yrne
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"Birning Irne n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/birning_irne>
