Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A stem of dry heather; specifically, one of the stems of burnt heath which remain after the smaller twigs have been consumed, as in moor-burning.
- noun That part of an instrument of the clarinet class into which the mouthpiece fits: so called from its shape.
Etymologies
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Examples
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I have left him in the upper cleugh, as he is somewhat kenspeckle, 27 and is marked both with cut and birn — the sooner the skin is off, and he is in saultfat, the less like you are to have trouble — you understand me?
The Monastery 2008
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Biren: Birne, pears: Schmid, bir, plural biren or birn. bishar: bisher, until now.
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Ed. Page view page image: they are too laizy at any rate to give themselves the trouble to raise them from their present situation in order to cut or birn them.
Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806 1904
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Aunt Sarah begun to maik awful faces and Keene and Cele sed phew what a awful smell and mother sed Keene open the windows quick and sumone birn
Brite and Fair Worth Brehm 1899
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How big a birn [53] maun lie on bassie's [54] back,
Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets, Complete George Gilfillan 1845
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How big a birn [53] maun lie on bassie's [54] back,
Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets, Volume 3 George Gilfillan 1845
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Mr. Gibson's birn was the letter T, and this was found distinctly enough impressed on the face of the ewe.
Anecdotes of Dogs Edward Jesse 1824
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On inspecting it carefully, it was found to bear an additional birn upon its face.
Anecdotes of Dogs Edward Jesse 1824
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I have left him in the upper cleugh, as he is somewhat kenspeckle, [Footnote: _Kenspeckle >/I > -- that which is easily recognized by the eye.] and is marked both with cut and birn -- the sooner the skin is off, and he is in saultfat, the less like you are to have trouble -- you understand me?
The Monastery Walter Scott 1801
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Indians have promised to do them no intentional injury and beleive they are too lazy at any rate to give themselves the trouble to raise them from their present situation in order to cut or birn them.
The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 Meriwether Lewis 1791
hernesheir commented on the word birn
The high part of a farm where the young sheep are summered; or dry heather pasture for the lambs after they have been weaned. --Dr. Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary and Supplement, 1841.
May 9, 2011