ˈbirlie, ˈbirley Sc.
A corrupted form of byrlaw, used in comb. birley-court, birlie-man. (See also burley-.)
| 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 74 Birlaw courts, the quhilks are rewled be consent of neighbours. 1609 Hume Admon. in Wodr. Soc. Misc. 587 Birlay Courtis. 1750 C. Campbell in Scots Mag. (1753) 454/2 I think it is quite right to have birlie⁓men. 1791–9 Statist. Acc. Scot. IV. 512 (Jam.) Crawford This towne consists of above 20 freedoms.—This little republic was governed by a birley court, in which every proprietor of a freedom had a vote. 1798 D. Graham Hist. John C. Wks. 1883 II. 102 The good man being a sworn birley-man of that barony. 1814 Scott Wav. xlii, Jamie Howie, wha's no fit to be a birlieman, let be a bailie. 1866 Proc. Berw. Nat. 261 Birley Courts, in the traditions of the Borders a name for any particularly stormy meeting. |