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.
Quotation dates: 1787-1929
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BIRNY, BIRNIE, Birney, adj.
1. Used to describe a birn stalk or land covered with Birns, n.2, q.v.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne A Lan'wart Loon 14:
He'd rax his way, Whaur birny runts wad gi'e a grup.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 23:
O'er dykes and birny fells They scour upo' the scent.
2. “Having a rough or stunted stem; applied to plants” (Lth. 1825 Jam.2).
3. By analogy, covered with rough hair.Ags. 1890 A. Lowson John Guidfellow i.:
Hugh Pitslauchery, was a strong-built, “birney” Hercules of a Scottish Highlander.Rxb. c.1885 W. Laidlaw Poetry and Prose (1908) 42:
He thrice kiss'd Grizzie's birny mou.
Hence fig., rough in temper.Ayr. 1787 Burns Letter to W. Nicol (ed. Ferguson 1931) No. 112:
My auld, ga'd Gleyde o' a meere . . . as teuch and birnie as a vera devil wi' me.Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 156:
A wee nippet, birny body he was, an' as crabbet's an ether.
4. (See first quot.)Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Birny, hard, dried up: 1. espec. of land; 2. of cloth that is hard and rough on the skin.Ags. 1879 T. Ormond in A. L. Fenton Forfar Poets 127:
My mither's red plaid, I mind on it weel; You would thought it was jute by its hard birnie feel.
