Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
BEIR, v.1 Sc. form of Eng. bear (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 203; Lth., Ayr. 1923-6 Wilson; Abd. 1926 Dieth Bch. Dial. 186; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Cai. 1975). Pa.t bure (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S.), †beer (ne.Sc.). Hence beirer, bearer. See also Bearer. [bør, bir]Abd. 1868 G. MacDonald R. Falconer i. xiii.:
I'm unco sorry to be the beirer o' sic ill news.Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie I. iii.:
Tak' ye heed o' beirin' fause witness, sir.Abd. 1880 G. Webster Crim. Officer 79:
She beer a bairn till 'im the time 't she was i' the jail.Dmf. 1874 R. Reid Moorland Rhymes 80:
Till substance could beir it na langer.
