Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BURIAL, Buriall, n. A funeral, interment, with all the attendant ceremonies. In Eng. the word implies only the actual burying. For Sc. forms and pronunciations, see Bural and Beerial.Sc. 1779 J. Beattie Scoticisms 10:
He walked at the burial.ne.Sc. 1924 I. F. Grant Old Highland Farm 1769–1782 173:
To Borlum 10 pints for his feyrs burialls.Ags. 1925 Forfar Dispatch (16 July) 3/3:
A canny hurl like a gude burial's no a bad thing noo an' than.
Combs.: (1) burial-boding, death-warning; †(2) burial bread, cakes, etc., eaten by the mourners after a funeral service; †(3) burial china (see quot.); (4) burial hat, tall hat worn at funerals; †(5) burial house, “the house of mourning; the house wherein lies a corpse awaiting interment; it is termed the burial house but for one day, the day of the burial” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 102); (6) burial letter, a formal, gen. printed letter announcing a death and containing an invitation to the funeral (Ork. 1975). See Funeral, n., 1.(1) Slk. 1818 Hogg Hunt of Eildon ii. in Brownie of Bodsbeck, etc. II. 251:
To tak the pet . . . an' there sit turnin up your nose an' bow-wowing as ye war a burial-boding! [addressing a dog](2) Ags. 1762 (per Fif.1):
An old Acct. of Burial bread . . . includes “one Plum Cake glased and gilt 12/-, one seed cake 6/4, two pound sugar bisquet 2/-.”(3) Fif. 1898 “A. Tytler” Mrs Carmichael's Goddesses xiv.:
There used to be sets or services of china designed, modelled, and baked for “marriage china” and “burial china,” to be brought out at weddings and funerals, borne off by the bride, or put carefully aside . . . to be taken out . . . for the gay or grim festivity of the next marriage or funeral.(4) Edb. 1897 P. H. Hunter J. Armiger's Revenge xv.:
Ploughmen and villagers clustered at the churchyard gate, dressed in their “burial hats” and the black suits of antique cut which had been handed down from father to son.(6)Edb. 1700 Edb. Gazette (16-26 Sept.):
James Donaldson Merchant in Edinburgh, has obtained their Lordships Act allowing him the Sole Priviledge of Printing or Stricking of Burial Letters within this Kingdom for 19 Years. . . . Such as have Occasion for burial Letters, may have what number they please cast off, on a Tipe which gives an Impression like a copper-plate.
