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.
BIRR, n.3, v.3
1. n. Used of hair, etc., standing stiff.Abd.4 1931:
Hair on end. A' in a birr.Lnk. 1930 T. S. Cairncross in Scots Mag. (Jan.) 301:
I'll tosche my curls, pit on a wee bit birr; My hair's a kennin' thin and tousie noo.
Hence birrie, adj., of hair: standing on end.Abd.9 1934:
A birrie pow.
fig., temper.nw., central Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 57:
His impetence set ma birr up. [More commonly Birse.]
Comb.: birr-headed, having stiff, bristling hair.Sc. 1925 Sc. Notes and Q. (July) 109/2:
A blind beggar called “bare — birr-headed blin Jamie.”
2. v. To make to stand up.Bch. 1928 (per Abd.15):
Wi her hair a' birred up like a heddery besim.
3. Phr.: birr up, standing on end.Gall. 1923 Gallov. Annual 31/2:
His cowt grew reezy, its lang tail 'Twad swash, an' lugs were birr up.
