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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Berare, Berere, n. Also: berrare, berar, ber(r)air, bearair; beirar(e, beirrar, beirir, barar, -er. [ME. berer, berere, OE. (wæter-) berere, ON. (sverð-) berare.]

1. One who bears or carries (esp. a letter).See also lime-, pok-, sand-, and witnes-berare.(a) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1294.
This lettyr sene, my dochtyre dere, Sone thow spows wyth the berere c1475 Wall. viii. 1650.
I the besek … To the berer ye her and gyff credance 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 26.
Our lettres … to the berrere gewyne 1569–70 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 650/1.
This barer … is ane quhom I credith 1574 Reg. Morton I. 80.
Prayand yow therfor to … resaue fra this berer ane hyind(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 1650.
Dene Henry … wes chosyn thare Off this charge to be berrare 1460 Exch. R. VI. 590.
Delyveryng thir our lettres … agane to the berare 1464 Fam. Innes 78.
The saide James, berar of thir presentis 1465 Wemyss Chart. 86.
The berare of this precept 1499 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 77.
Thai haif devysit to haif fyve persounis … to be berares and clengearis within this toune 1509 Coll. Aberd. & B. 473.
This oure lettres be yow sene and vndirstand deliuering thame agane to the berrare c 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 319.
This berair will schaw … the causis of my tarye at gretter lenthe 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 268.
This referris to the berrar [of the letter] 1573 Reg. Morton I. 78.
I understuid be the berair of my lettres he delyverit the said writting to the Lady ȝour spouse 1581 Burne Disput. 129.
The Deuil, callit Lucifer, ane berar of licht 1604-31 Craig i. 40/24.
When my freend thy berar spurd with pane 1614 Highland P. III. 157.
Whairin he conceded some credite … to Bryce Simple, bearair of his lettre(c) 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 354.
For the paynting of the … beirrar of the townis armes 1562-3 Winȝet I. 138/7.
Pleis resaue fra this beirar the samin mater now mair legible 1583 Wemyss Corr. 27.
We send ouer this beirar … to ressaue that siluer fra yow 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Pede.
Quha are called beirares of the puddill be the Scottesmen in the realme of Polonia

2. One who gives birth; a female parent; an animal bearing young. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1434.
Haill, berar of the King 1533 Boece ii. v. 64.
That na hound suld lyne the bik his awne berare c 1610 Rep. Hist. MSS., Var. Coll. V. 117.
Half ane scoir of fallow deir, thairoff iij bukkis and sevin beraris 1622-6 Bisset II. 364/3.
Theotocos or Dejpara, that is the beirare of God

3. A bearing tree. 1520 Stirling B. Rec. I. 7.
The … brekin of the young treis and the bararis