Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAIRN-TIME, n.¹ All the offspring of one mother (of persons and animals). [′berntəim]Sc. [1834] J. Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) IV. 74:
Them that saw a' their bairntime meltin awa till they had to kneel down by their ain twa sels in prayer.Ayr. 1786 Burns To his Auld Mare xv.:
My pleugh is now thy bairn-time a'; Four gallant brutes, as e'er did draw.Gall. a.1868 Curriehill:
Bairntime means properly the whole children of a family, thus: “It's a wise wife that wots the weird o' a' her hail bairntime.”Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 50:
O' nature's ancient bairntime near o' kin, Three stately brithers.