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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAIRDAL, Berdel, n. (See second quot.) [′berdəl]Sh. 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 77:
The aborigines made many domestic articles out of clebber, or bairdal, as steatite is also called.
Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Berdel, soft kind of rock, steatite, soapstone.

[Jak. suggests with probability Norw. berg, a mountain, mine, quarry + talg, tallow, as in talgstein, dial., steatite.]

1521

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