Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BURD, Bord, n.1 [bʌrd, but Sh. + bø:rd, bu:rd (Fair Isle)]
Sc. form of Eng. bird. Also dim. burdie.m.Sc. 1991 Robert Calder in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 141:
Burdies, beasties, yer langsyne friend is deid,
foe tae ilk dunderheid, fire and speerit baith.
Weel, the cause o life's forbye the cause o daith!Gsw. 1996 Anne Donovan in Kathleen Jamie and James McGonigal New Writing Scotland 14: Full Strength Angels 20:
It's thon tree ootside the bedroom windae; overhangin branches fill the sky, big black burds nest in it, swoopin by lik enemy planes.
Sc. usages:
1. Offspring in gen., chiefly used in a derogatory sense when applied to human beings; the young of birds before hatching. Cf. Bird, n.1, 1.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 381:
You have gotten Butter in a Burd [i.e. when you were a chicken]. Spoken to one that sings, speaks, or calls with a loud Voice. The Scotish Wives give Butter to those Chickens which they design to rear for House Cocks, that they may crow the clearer.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Der'r a b[ord] i de egg.Cai. 1916 J. Mowat Caithness Proverbs 7:
“Lek 'e tod's burd, auler 'e waar” — like the young of the fox, the older the more cunning it grows.Slk. 1824 Hogg Private Memoirs 330:
Ye ditit, donnart, deil's burd that ye be! Hence burded, bordet, adj., “of eggs — having young inside. ‘Hoo many o' the eggs were b[urded] ?'” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), bordet; Ork. 1929 Marw., burded).
2. A term of endearment, gen. to children or young persons. Dim. burdie. Also attrib.Sc. [1826] R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 13:
Hushie-ba, burdie beeton! Your mammie's gane to Seaton.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
My b[ord]! my sweet b[ord]! my dear little one, my love!Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 115:
O tak' the Bible, Kitto, burd!
