Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶TABEAN BIRBEN, n. Also brirben. A form conjectured by Jam. to be a corruption of Tabian evourbane, i.e. ivory from Tabia in Italy. The explanation is most improbable for the first element but more plausible in regard to the second.Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs I. 149:
And wha will kame thy bonny head With a tabean birben kame? [MS. brirben]
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"Tabean Birben n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tabean_birben>
