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.
Quotation dates: 1805, 1923
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BIRST, n.2 (See second quot.)Rxb. 1805 A. Scott Poems 145:
Alang wi' you the birst to dree, Lang have ye squeez'd my bun.nw.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 57:
†Birst. Stress or difficulty of adverse circumstances. Chiefly with verbs, as to stand, dree, or bear the birst.
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"Birst n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/birst_n2>
