Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BURRIE, Barrie, n.2 Also burry. “A game amongst children” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 20). For full description, see quot. Also called burrie across (Abd.16 c.1885) and barrie across the road (Abd.22 c.1875).Abd. 1837 Abd. Shaver (Aug.) 371:
Councillor Bisset counting for "Burry"- "Twa and twa's a tip-pen-y loaf, Twa and twa's it."Abd. 1898 E.D.D.:
Burrie. A boy's game played in the open street, within marked bounds, gen. the space occupied by so many houses on either side. Within this boundary a boy stands in the middle of the street, while his playmates stand on one or both of the pavements, endeavouring to cross the street without being caught or touched. If one of them is caught he has to take his place in the middle of the street until he catches another.
