Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Ȝern,) Ȝyrne, v. P.t. ȝearned. [North. ME yern- (1371-3), e.m.E. earn (1674), OE iernan, metathetic var. of rinnan to run, and ærnan to cause to run. Also in the later dial.] a. intr.Of milk; To coagulate or curdle. b. tr.To cause (milk) to coagulate or curdle. —a. 15.. Wyf Awcht. 72.
And syne he het the milk our hett And sorrow spark of it wald ȝyrne —b. 1633 Orkney Bp. Ct. MS 86b.
He causit all his neighbouris wyffis … to milk thair kye … putting thair milk in ane pot cairyied be him for the purpose and ȝearned thair milk