An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

Probably of Scandinavian origin, as Sw. bars is a kind of ship; and berling, a boat-staff, Seren. I am informed, however, that in Gael. the word is written bhuirlin.

To BIRN, v. a. To burn.
V. [Bryn].

BIRN, BIRNE, s. A burnt mark; S.
Acts Charles II.
Skin and Birn, a common phrase, denoting the whole of any thing, or of any number of persons or things; S.
from A. S. byrn, burning.
Acts Marie.

BIRN, s. A burden, S. B.
Ross.
To gie one's birn a hitch, to assist him in a strait, S. B.
Poems Buchan Dial.

An abbreviation of A. S. byrthen, burden; if not from C. B. biorn, onus, byrnia, onerare; Davies.

BIRNIE, BYRNIE, s. A corslet, a brigandine.
Douglas.

A. S. byrn, byrna, Isl. bryn, brynia, Sw. bringa, thorax, lorica, munimentum pectoris; probably from Isl. bringa, pectus.

BIRNS, s. pl. Roots, the stronger stems of burnt heath, which remain after the smaller twigs are consumed; S.

A. S. byrn, incendium.

Pennycuik.