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.
BERRY, BERRI(E), BARRIE, v. To thresh corn or thrash a person, esp. a child. [′bɑrɪ w. and sm.Sc.; ′bɛrɪ̢ Kcb., Dmf., Rxb.; ′bærɪ Sh. and s.Sc.]Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Berri, to thrash corn, to b[erri] de corn.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 49:
Barried. Thrashed; as with a flail.Kcb. 1815 J. Gerrond Poems 81:
The barnman's up now by day light, And berries on till ten at night.Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
To berry a bairn, to beat a child. To thrash corn.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 54:
Berry. †(1) To beat [a bairn]. (2) ‡To thresh (corn).w.Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw Country Schoolmaster 344:
Berry, to thrash corn, or man, or child. In the Galloway poem of Aiken Drum, the Brownie says — I'll berry your crops by the light of the moon. vbl.n. berrying, a thrashing.Kcb.3 1929:
People still say “If I catch you I'll gie ye a guid berrying.” They would not say “I'll berry you.”
ppl.adj. barried, “stiff and sore as after a day's thrashing” (Sc. 1887 Jam.6 s.v. bar).
[O.N. berja, to beat. The vowel in barrie may be from Bar, v.1, to flail.]
