Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BIRST, n.3 and v. [bɪ̢̈rst, bʌrst]
1. n.
(1) Exertion beyond one's strength, producing evil consequences.Bnff. 1866 W. Gregor D.Bnff. 11:
He got a birst last hairst, an' he hiz na cowrt it yet.Ib.:
He got a birst rinnin' for the doctor, an' he lay sax ooks aifter't.
(2) A burst, rent, tear, a broken thread (Ayr. 1928). See also Bris. Lnk. a.1854 W. Watson Poems (1877) 59:
I've een a dainty packet kist, Hale seven sarks without a birst.
2. v. Pa.p. birsen (Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xix.).
(1) To burst.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 30:
My father he yeed wi' me at the first, But a' the time my heart was like to birst.Abd.(D) 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War (1918) 21:
“Deil birst them,” quo' she, “I would pit them in jyle Oonless they gie owre wi' the killin' o't.”
Phr. “(deil) birst their bellies, said of people gormandising; birst yer belly, said to one boasting of a large helping of something extra good” (Abd.4 1929).
(2) “To overheat” (Mry.1 1925). vbl.n. birstin.Bch.(D) 1930 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 103:
A've kent young speerity chiels never ca'ower the birstin' at they got that wy.
(3) To burst out weeping.Abd.(D) 1875 W. Alexander Life Amang my Ain Folk (1882) 199:
Keep me, 'oman, he jist birstet an' grat like a vera bairn.
