Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
OUT-BEARIN, adj.2 Thriving, in phr. ill-out-bearan, of a young animal: not thriving, not responding to feeding (Ork. 1930).
[Out- is prob. a Scotticised form of orig. at as in Ill-at, q.v. For the whole phr. cf. Swed. bera sig illa at, to be awkward, act clumsily.]
