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: 1399-1420, 1499-1654
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Birse, Byrse, v. [Variant, with transposition of r, of Bris v.] tr. To bruise; to injure by pressure.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvii. 395.
Sancte Vincent tormentit ves, Byrsit, beft, & brynt a1500 Golagros and Gawane 870.
He wes byrsit and beft c1420 Wynt. v. 1970 (E2).
Scho byrssit and beft bak and banys a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 445.
Birsand his breist, rivand his tender haire a1508 Ib. 688.
That hevy croce … birssis all his banis 1513 Doug. ix. xiii. 69.
Hys sovir armour … Is brokkyn and byrsyt with feill stonys cast 1561 Criminal Trials I. i. 413.
Dingand and birsand thame with diuerse base strekis 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 337.
Scho being birsit sa that … scho is not able to steir hir bodie for the vehement pane and dolloure thairof 1596 Dalr. II. 28/9.
Nocht lang eftir, he fell aff a horse, quhair he was sa birset, that he was vnable to gouerne 1612 Criminal Trials III. 243.
He … brak and birset his haill intrallis within him 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 174.
[The officer] so birsed and bruised him … that he hes ever lyin bedfast sensyne 1654 Peebles B. Rec. II. 196.
Lockis that was brokin … sprentis and plaitis birsed and brokin
