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.
Quotation dates: 1500-1568
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Birnis, Birneis, v. [Later form of Burnis v.] tr. To burnish, polish. c1500 Fyve Bestis 60.
His statly hed with tyndis … Of polist gold & siluer birnist bricht a1540 Freiris Berw. 275.
My hairt will ay be sair Gif ȝone scheip heid with Symon birneist be a1568 Bannatyne MS 137 a/5.
Scho birneist hir baith breist and brow, And maid hir cleir as ony clok
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"Birnis v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/birnis>
