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