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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hird, Hyrd, n.¹ [ME. (latterly northern) hyrd(e, hird(e, OE. hyrde, hierde, hiorde. Cf. Herd n.²]

1. The keeper of a herd; a cattle-herd or shepherd. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 351.
Paulis hed … a hyrd has tane One his staf end Ib. xl. 441.
He … bad his hirdis that his fe That nycht in the circle suld be c1420 Wynt. i. 213.
Quhar hyrdys mycht in herbry be, Nycht and day, to kepe thare fe 1456 Hay I. 40/33.
Thai war norist … in the wod for a tyme, quhill … a hird fand thame 1491 Acta Conc. 193/1.
Gif the hirdis will mak faithe that the said wedderis were spuilȝeit be the said Alexander 1533 Bell. Livy II. 231/6.
It war better to duell in small cruvis, sic as hirdis and landwart pepill vsis 1549 Compl. 42/24.
I beheld mony hudit hirdis blauuand ther buc hornis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 69.
So … assembled hird and hyreman that perteinit to the band of the Kennedies 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 21.
The Sessioun ordeined everie maister to correct his avin hird quha kendillit bonfyris this yeir 1630 Urie Baron Ct. 70.
Ewerie cotter … that is hird to his awin guidis in the day tyme 1686 Corshill Baron Ct. 173.
Ane paire of … shoes of ane hirds bonteith

b. Common hird, one employed by the community. (See Commoun a. 1 d.) 1434 Ayr Burgh Ct. Bk. 19 April.
The qwilk day Jhonn Manson, commoun hird, takand for ilka som v d 1490 Lanark B. Rec. 6.
Wille Broun feit to be common hird for ix d the som 1609 Peebles Gleanings 36.
That twa commoun hirdis he feait to the sheip 1702 Banff Ann. I. 173.
Whither … the comone grass should be rouped or ane commone hird sett therone

2. transf. A spiritual guide, a pastor. a1400 Leg. S. i. 670.
Pece be to thé, … hyrde of goddis hersale all Ib. xl. 152.
I wyl [that] thu mad bischope be And hird, to kepe Goddis fe a1500 Prestis of Peblis 413.
Ane bischop … is na hird to keip thay sely sheip 1531 Bell. Boece I. 128.
The haly apostolis … Quhilkis gave thair hale attendans, as gud hirdis, to instruk thair flok in the sicker faith 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 287.
Ȝe sulde not chuse vnto that cure … No sleprie hird

3. A guardian or keeper. a1500 Seven S. 2662.
The scho ravyn … sais scho aucht to be his hird 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 62.
I am hird Thé to award from buffettis

4. Attrib. with boll, grome (lad), hillok. c 1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 246.
Limites de Dulmayok … In the first the meir burne, … the hirde hillock [etc.] 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 77.
The silly scheip and thar litil hyrd gromys 1659 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 230.
[Two bolls of oats promised] for his hird boll