Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
OUTBURD, n. Also -bird, utbord (Jak.); ootburg. The number of peats which have been cut out of one row of a peat-bank and spread out to dry on top of the grass (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1962, -burg). Cf. Outlay, I. 2. [′utburd, -børd; -burg]Sh. 1898 Shetland News (7 May):
Dey'll no be mair dan tre or fower paets i' da ootburg ferby da skjumpik.Sh. 1903 E.D.D.:
A strip of peat-moss is stripped off the surface turf and smoothed ready for cutting. . . . The peats are cut out in rows and the number of peats in one row is called an oot-burd.
