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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.

Burn, n. Also: burne, bwrn(e, born(e, bourn, bowrn. [ME. burn, burne (bourne), OE. burna.]

1. A brook or stream.Frequent in early place-names, as Merburne (c 1170), Triernburn (c 1200), Bradestrothirburne (c 1220), Treburne (1222). Kyrkeburne (1229), etc.(a) 1375 Barb. vii. 39.
Richt to the burn thai passit ar Ib. 78.
At that burn eschapit the king a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 1314.
Sone was he thare cummyne Til a place, quhare a burne had runnyn c1420 Wynt. viii. 4590.
At a lytyll bwrne passyng Schyr Thomas hwrt wes in the kne 1425 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 97.
Landis liand on the sovth side of the bvrne of the said burch 1461 Liber Plusc. 382.
All thir watteris … Baith of salt sey, of burne, well and revere a1500 Henr. Fab. 1819.
The carll pullit the lyne, … It steipit in the burn 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 214.
The croftis of the yond syd the burn … to perten to the sayd wicar 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 14.
Quhen the burn on spait hurlys down the bank Ib. iii. v. 131.
A smal burn half gane dry 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxvi.
The hillis of Cheviot, fra quhilk springis mony small burnis Ib. p. xlvi.
Fra this fontane discendis ane litil burne or strip 1535 Stewart 38914.
All the strandis neirby … Lyke ony burne abundit all with blude 1549 Reg. Cupar A. II. 59.
Ane pairt of the said miln landis lyand vpoun the est of the burn of Wester Drymmie 1592 Reg. Great S. 90/2.
The victuall land maillis of Clestrane benorthe the burne a1598 Ferg. Prov. 112.
Ye may drink of the burn, but not byte of the brae 1611 Reg. Panmure I. p. xcii.
Thear as the strype or auld vattirgange entres in the bwrne 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 337.
The haill tanners qwha hes thair bark holis on the burne or neir the burne 1683 Melrose R. Rec. III. 9.
John Uschar … houked ane seugh … doune allongs to the burne(b) a1400 Leg. S. xlii. 306.
Weltrand, as it a borne had bene 1420 Liber Calchou 447.
A pese of lande … lyand between ij bowrnis 1522 Stirling B. Rec. I. 17.
That na persoun … woucht [sic] ony maner of clais at the toune bouirn … for fyling of the bourn 1655 Lamont Diary 91.
The bourns ran downe some shorne cornes in severall places

2. Water, esp. for use in brewing.Frequent in north-eastern records after 1600. 1509–10 Rentale Dunkeld. fol. 85 b.
In brasino pro lie burn & candelis ad sedecim lie maskis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4140.
To make thinne aill thay think na falt, Of mekill burne & lytill malt 1548 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 141; 1552 Ib. 164.
That na maner of persouns ledares of burne tak the sam furth of the wellis … bot to pas to the Loch and vthers convenient places 1598 St. A. Kirk S. 850.
That na brouster caus be led ony burn to mask thair fattis, nor fill thair leadis upon the Saboth 1603 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 27.
The Sabbath day is grytlie prophanit … be bearing of burne be a gryt nomer of theas that brewis 1626 Elgin Rec. II. 197.
John Forsythis wyffe purgeit hir selfe … that she drew no burne but ane fraucht to mak redie hir meat 1633 M. Works Acc. XXVIII. 17.
Aucht laid of burne for draking the lyme at ij s. the gang 1658 Elgin Rec. I. 308.
For bringing in of horse … to carie burne for quenching of the fyr at the west porte

3. Attrib. or comb. with (1) bra, cruke, end, hede, mouth, rude, side, trout; (2) bearer, rowbour, tub.(1) 1420 Liber Calchou 447.
A schele … apon the bourn bra 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 8.
A porciunkle of land liande at the said furd of the burn, … callit a burne cruk 1498 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 237.
Tres perticatas terrarum … le Burne Rudis vocatas 1508 Ib. IV. 465.
Sic semper versus boream … relinquendo le Burnhedis ad Strabogy 1509 Acts II. 267/1.
The dene of Cokburnpeth contenand fra the braa hede to the burn ende 1548 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 350.
Cum … duabus croftis de Burneside unacum crofta de Waterside 1597 Reg. Great S. 180/1.
Apud torrentis ostium lie burnemouth de Largo 1598 Stirling Ant. III. 309.
Item, xx born trowtts. Item, ij^c egis 1601 Crim. Trials II. 357.
Steling of twa naigis … furth of ane burnesyde bevest Calder 1641 Dundee Chart. 58.
Ab ostiis torrentis vulgo vocat. lie Burnemouth de Innergowrie(2) 1569 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 74.
Hinging of burnrowbouris 1581 Perth Kirk S. 240.
This act in special to be directed against baxters, brewsters, … burn-bearers, fleshers 1645 Edinb. Test. LXI. 134.
Twa wasching tubes, … ane burne tub