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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.

Bard, Baird, n. Also: barde, bayrde. [Gael. Bard. Also Eng. from 1594, partly after L. bardus.] A poet or minstrel; esp. a strolling singer or player; a vagabond minstrel or buffoon; a scurrilous person. Sometimes applied to women. 1328 Exch. R. I. 116.
[Douenaldo Bard 1364 Rotuli Sc. 883/2.]
Simon le Bard, mercator de Scotia(a) 1449 Acts II. 36/1.
At the said schiref … inquere at ilk courte gif thar be ony that makis thaim fulis that ar nocht, bardis, or sic lik utheris rynnaris aboute 1457 Ib. 51/1.
That in all Justice ayris the kingis Justice ger take inquisicione of sornaris, bardis, maisterfull beggaris or fenȝeit fulys c1450-2 Howlat 795.
A bard owt of Irland with Banachadee! Ib. 811.
The barde worth brane wod, and bitterly couth ban 1476 Fam. Innes 83.
Before thir witnes, master Iames Stewert, persone of Strowane. … Thom the bard [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II. 99.
Eugenius … commandit all idill pepil, as juglaris, menstralis, bardis, and scaffaris, othir to pas out of the realme, or ellis to find sum craft to win their leiffing 1561 Q. Kennedy Oratioun 20.
Barkcand bauldly like bardis, aganis the blissit sacrament 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 9.
All commoun skoldis, flyttaris, and bardis to be baneist the toun c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 61.
Ane fenyeit flatterair or fuile, I say, Ane barde, and bragger, or bordell hure 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 104.
The Caluinolatre ministers playis the part of ane impudent bard aganis the cathedral sait of Rome 1610 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 317.
Vpone consideratioun Of the grit abuse done to honest wemen be scallis and bardis … , it is ordanit that all sik scallis and bardis quha heireftir hapnis to abuse honest wemen with thair blasphemous langage … be pwnist in prissoun 1643 Orkney Rentals App. 56.
The old act made against skalds, bards, and slanderers, to be intimate the nixt Sunday out of the pulpit(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 17 (B).
Wonder laith wer I to be ane baird, Flyting to use Ib. 208.
Lyk ane berdles baird [M. bayrde] that has no bedding 1535 Stewart 49785.
Of ringat rangat. … Inmensurabill war in that multitude, Of bairdis and boyis, and knaifis makand cummer 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1173.
Wee haue … bucklit vp weill ȝon bledrand baird [sc. Lady Verity] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 52/27.
Thow art ane baird full brokin, ane hiddeous helles hyrd 1574 Acts III. 89/1.
That na Irische and hieland bairdis and beggaris be brocht … in the lawland be boittis or vtherwayis 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 113.
Thay blast out lyk schameles bairdis, that the Pape is the cheif antichrist 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 657.
The menstrallis and the bairdis … About his ludgene loudlie played Ib. 916.
They knew him for a sembling baird 1600 Acts IV. 232/2.
The saidis … beggaris being for the maist pairt theiffis, bairdis and counterfitt lymmeris 1618 Orkney Rentals App. 51.
All scaldis, bairdis, slanderers, and persons offensive to their neighbours be speiche

b. Attrib. with fallo, hussé, wife. 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 2128.
To ane bard wif in Dunbertane, xvj d. 1545 Ib. VIII. 386.
To ane baird fallo callit Hercules 1546 Ib. 466.
To ane baird hussé in Dumbertane