Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BIRKY, n. In phr. like birky, appar. firmly, securely.Edb. 1777 Weekly Mag. (30 Oct.) 112:
Young lear is ill forgot indeed, It sticks like birky in my head, E'en now whan I am auld.
[Orig. uncertain. Poss. adapted from Birkie, n.3, on the assumption that the word was merely an intensive.]
