Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BICK, n.2 and v.1. Also bikbirr (Abd. 1975). [bɪk + ɪ̢ + ɛ]
1. n. (See quots.)Abd. 1861 J. Davidson Poems 71:
The bikbirr of the muirfowl.Abd.4 1931:
Bick, bick, birr-r-r, call of the moor-fowl.Gall. 1901 G. G. B. Sproat in Gallovidian II. 145:
The cry o' grouse when they're a-stirrin' — “Quee-beck, quee-beck,” or “Bick-beck-birrin',” Frae cock an' hen.Abd. 1992 David Toulmin Collected Short Stories 87:
'Bick-birr, bick-birr', the moorhens cried.
2. v. (See quot.)Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
Bick and Birr. To cry as grouse. Birr is expl. as especially denoting the latter part of this cry. [Watson Rxb. W.-B. (1923) gives it as now obs.]
