▪ I. bier
(bɪə(r))
Forms: 1 bǽr, ber, 2–3 bære, 2–6 bere, 3 bare, 4–7 beer(e, 5–6 Sc. beyr, 5–7 bear(e, 6 beir(e, 6–7 biere, 6– bier.
[Com. Teut.: OE., WSax. bǽr, Anglian bér, = OS., OHG. bâra (MHG. bâre, mod.G. bahre), OTeut. *bêrâ fem. f. beran to bear; cf. ON. barar fem. pl., also barrow. The modern spelling (since 1600) appears to be due to imitation of the F. form bière, ad. OHG. bâra (cf. Pr. bera, It. bara).]
† 1. A framework for carrying; a handbarrow; a litter, a stretcher. Obs. exc. Hist.
| c 890 K. ælfred Bæda v. xix. (Bosw.), On his þegna handum on bære boren wæs. c 975 Rushw. G. John v. 8 Aris & ᵹinim bere ðine & gaa. c 1300 Beket 899 Ibare in barewe other in bere. 1535 Coverdale 2 Macc. iii. 27 They toke him vp and bare him out vpon a beare. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis iv. (Arb.) 108 On beers her softlye reposing. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. xii, Sommers greene all girded vp in sheaues Borne on the beare with white and bristly beard. 1851 Turner Dom. Arch. I. iv. 140 Horse litters or beres were also in use. |
2. The movable stand on which a corpse, whether in a coffin or not, is placed before burial; that on which it is carried to the grave.
| a 1000 Elene (Gr.) 873 And ᵹefarenne man [hi] Brohton on bære. c 1200 Ormin 8167 All the bære wass bileȝȝed With bæten gold and silferr. a 1300 Cursor M. 20703 Four of þapostles ber þe bere. 1382 Wyclif 2 Sam. iii. 31 Forsothe Dauid folwide the beere [Cov. bere]. 1565 Jewel Repl. Harding (1611) 211 Whosoeuer was chosen Bishop there, should come to the Beare, and lay his Predecessours hand upon his head. 1611 Bible 2 Sam. iii. 31 King Dauid himselfe followed the biere. ― Luke vii. 14 Hee came and touched the beere. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. i. 7 Feretra or Beers of Wood. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. 100 He had seiz'd the Bier. 1877 Bryant Lit. People Snow 303 Following the bier, Chanted a sad and solemn melody. |
b. Put for the corpse on the bier.
rare.
| 1596 Spenser Astroph. 149 The dolefulst beare that euer man did see, Was Astrophel. |
3. transf. A tomb, a sepulchre.
| 1513 Douglas æneis iii. i. 116 To Polidorus wp a beir We ereckit. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 600 Tuke the Scottis in the feild war slane, To Crissin bereis in the tyme thame buir. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iii. iii. 11 He was surprisd, and buried under beare. 1808 Scott Marm. i. Introd., Drop upon Fox's grave a tear, 'Twill trickle to his rival's bier. |
† 4. to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bier: to bring to the grave or to death, to put to death; in
pass., to meet one's death, die.
Obs.| c 1480 Childe Bristowe 132 in E.P.P. (1864) 116 Sone, now y pray the, myn attourney that thu be, when y am broght to bere. 1513 Douglas æneis x. x. 138 This Dardane prince Sa mony douchty corpsis brocht on beyr. 1530 Lyndesay Papyngo 405. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk xvi, Through privy murder we brought him to his beere. Ibid. Mempr. v, When I had my brother brought on beire. |
5. Comb. and
attrib., as
bier-carrier;
† bier-balk, a balk in a field where there is a right of way for funerals;
bier-cloth, a pall;
† bier-right, an ordeal in which a person, accused of murder, was required to approach the corpse, and clear himself on oath;
† bier-tree, the frame of a bier.
| 1563 Homilies ii. Rogation Wk. iv. (1640) 237 Where their ancestors left of their land a broad and sufficient *beere-balke to carry the corps to the Christian sepulture. |
| 1654 Trapp Comm. Job xxxiii. 22 His life..to the *Bier-carryers, say the Tigurines. |
| 1549 Invent. Ch. Goods in Norfolk Archæol. (1865) VII. 34 Itm ij *beer clothes, whereof the on is of blacke worsted, the other of canvasse. |
| 1693 Lond. Gaz. No. 2845/4 Two black *Bier Cloths. |
| 1828 Scott F.M. Perth II. 237 I have heard of the *bier-right, Sir Louis. |
| c 1440 Bone Flor. 1350 Broght hym home on a *bere-tree. |
▪ II. bier obs. form of
bear,
beer,
birr,
buyer.