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.
Bore-breiff, -breive, n. Also: bor-, boir-; breeff, briff, brieve. [f. bore p.p. of Bere v.] A birth-certificate. (Cf. birth breif Birth n.1 4.)1593 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 86.
The previe seall … quhair with the testimoniallis and boirbrevis that passis to uther pairtis beyond sey ar seallit 1635 Maxwell Mem. II. 257.
I hef resewit my bor briff 1652 Misc. Spald. C. V. 335.
Thomas Burnet … desyrit … that wpoun the probatioun led he micht haue ane bore breiff in ordinar forme vnder the touns seall 1659 Stirling B. Rec. I. 230.
Affixing the towns great seale to a borebreive subscrivit be the … magistrats and counsell 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 634.
To evidence his descent it will be necessar he have a borbreiff under his Majesties great seall 1686 Acts VIII. 611/2.
Warrand for a bore brieve to Charles Colbert Marques of Seignelay 1704 Cromarty Corr. I. 235.
Your Lordship was pleased to send me the draught of Colonel Ogilvies bore-breeff, … and I hope her Majesty will signe it
