† ˈburian Obs. exc. Sc.
Forms in sense 1: 1 byrᵹen, 2 berien, burien.
[OE. byrᵹen str. fem. has no parallel forms in the other Teut. langs., but represents a WGer. *burginnja, f. ablaut-stem burg- (borg-) of *berg-an bergh to protect + innja (cf. burden n.). But evidence is wanting as to the identity of this with the local Sc. burian, which is not associated with it in sense.]
† 1. A tomb, sepulchre. Obs.
| a 1000 Elene (Gr.) 186 Þy þriddan dæᵹe of byrᵹenne beorna wuldor of deaðe aras. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 20 Wa eow..forðam ᵹe synt ᵹelice hwitum byrᵹenum. c 1160 Hatton G. ibid., Ȝelic hwite beriene. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 111 [He forðfarene] mon fereð to buriene. |
2. Sc. ‘A mound, a tumulus; or, a kind of fortification’ (Jamieson). Usually applied in south of Scotland to a prehistoric ‘camp’ or hill-fort.
| 1792 Stat. Acc. Scotl. IV. 522 (Kirkpatrick-Juxta) There are a great number of Cairns or burians. 1794 Ibid. XI. 528 (Westerkirk) There is a great number of burians in this parish. These are all of a circular form, and are from 36 to 50 yards diameter. They are supposed by some to be remains of Pictish encampments. 1794 Ibid. XIII. 599 Burians are to be seen in different places, whether British towns or asylums for cattle. 1805 R. Forsyth Beaut. Scotl. II. 285. |