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.
Birth, Byrth, n.2 Also: birtht, byrtth. [ON. byrð-r (Icel. byrði). Not found in Eng. use.]
1. Burden, carrying capacity (of a vessel). 1497 Reg. Privy S. I. 19/1.
Schippis nocht excedand that byrth [sc. 80 tons] 1509 Ib. 283/2. 1513 Acta Conc. MS. XXVI. 92.
As for the bottis … at the lordis be advertist … of the quantite of thar birtht 1513 Doug. v. iii. 31.
The bustuus barge … Sa huge of byrth a cite semyt sche 1535 Stewart 50589.
For birth and wecht hir furing wes so hie 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 173.
To be payit of als mekill fraucht for thair schip … and mair according to hir byrtth 1566 Rec. Earld. Orkney 376.
Williame schip, beand of the byrth of xiiij last or thairby 1589 Douglas Chart. 295.
Ane litill small bark … of the birthe of tuentie lastis or thairby 1615 Highland P. III. 245.
With galayes, birlingis, and such lyk veshelles of this birth or there abouttes 1622 Conv. Burghs III. 127.
The saids persounes sal … mak knawn … the birth of thair schips, barkis, and crears
2. Carrying or conveying. 1655 Conv. Burghs III. 403.
Dammage … by raising the pryces of the saidis coallis … and withholding of tymous birth
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"Birth n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/birth_n_2>
