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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.

Birst, Byrst, v. Also: byrste; p.t. and p.p. birst, byrst, birstit, byrstyt; p.p. birstin, birsyn. [Variant of Brist v., with transposition of r as in ME. berste(n, OE. berstan. Cf. also Burst v.]

1. intr. a. To burst; to give way and break. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 280.
His balful bayly byrste in twa a1500 Henr. Orph. 128.
His hert ner birst for werray dule & wo c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 102.
For lawchtir neir I birst c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 139.
Thocht Codrus kyte suld cleue and birst 1560 Rolland Seven S. 184/2.
I meruell … That I birst not, and in twa brekis my hart a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 52.
Thairfoir my hart will birst in two

b. To burst or flow out. c1475 Wall. xi. 171.
Nes, mouth, and eyn … all byrstyt owt off blud c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 345.
Neir my baret out birst or the band makin Id. lxxii. 35.
Quhill blude birst out at every vane 1533 Boece iii. xviii. 117.
Of new his ene birst out in teris a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 13.
With … paine thir wordes skairs birst out

2. tr. To cause to burst or break; to rupture. c1475 Wall. iv. 467.
Bathe bayne and brayn he byrst throw all the weid Ib. viii. 800.
Thai … Byrstyt helmys c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 83.
It breikis my hairt, and birstis my brane 1515 Treas. Acc. V. 44.
[Money] to by him ane hors, becaus his hors wes birstin in the Kingis service 1535 Stewart 6680.
Basnetis wer birstit quhill all the ruvis raue 15.. Christis K. 133 (M).
With bougaris of barns thai birst blew cappis 1596 Dalr. II. 328/12.
His heid [was] il birst and sair hurt

b. To send out with vigour. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 5.
Ane bird, on ane branche, so birst out hir notis That [etc.]