Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BURT, v. “To kindle: (a) to quicken a fire, esp. the fire on the hearth, to poke the fire, to b[urt] op de fire, to b[urt] i' de fire; also sometimes in a contrary sense to b[urt] ut defire, let the fire go out; (b) to snuff the wick in an open train-oil lamp (koli), to get a train-oil lamp to give a better light by pulling up the wick with a wooden pin (burter); to b[urt] oot de wick o' de koli, to pull up the wick” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.). See also Birt. [bʌrt]
Hence burter, “a wooden pin with which the wick in an open train-oil lamp is trimmed and pulled up to make it burn brighter” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.).
[O.N. birta, to give light, to brighten, cogn. O.E. bierhtan, to shine, Goth. baírhtjan, to light up. Norw. also has byrta, to brighten (Torp), and byrtar, according to Jak., with the same meaning as Sh. burter. Same root as Sc. bricht.]
