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

A. S. brys-an, Belg. brys-en; Ir. bris-im; Fr. bris-er, id.

BIRSE, BRIZE, s. A bruise, S.

To BIRSLE, BIRSTLE, BRISSLE, v. a.
1. To burn slightly, to broil, to parch by means of fire; as, to birsle pease, S.
Douglas.
2. To scorch; referring to the heat of the sun, S.
Douglas.
3. To warm at a lively fire, S. A. Bor. brusle, id.

Su. G. brasa, a lively fire; whence Isl. brys, ardent heat, and bryss-a, to act with fervour, ec breiske, torreo, aduro; A. S. brastl, glowing, brastlian, to burn, to make a crackling noise.

BIRSLE, BRISSLE, s. A hasty toasting or scorching, S.

BIRTH, BYRTH, s. Size, bulk, burden.
V. [Burding].
Douglas.

Isl. byrd, byrth-ur, byrth-i, Dan. byrde, Su. G. boerd, burden; whence byrding, navis oneraria. The origin is Isl. ber-a, Su. G. baer-a, A. S. ber-an, byr-an, portare.

BIRTH, s. A current in the sea, caused by a furious tide, but taking a different course from it, Orkn. Caithn.
Statist. Acc.

Isl. byrdia, currere, festinare, Verel.; as apparently signifying a strong current.

BY-RUNIS, s. pl. Arrears.
Skene.