Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BIRR, n.³, v.³

1. n. Used of hair, etc., standing stiff.Abd.⁴ 1931:
Hair on end. A' in a birr.Lnk. 1930 T. S. Cairncross in Scots Mag. (Jan.) 301:
I'll tosche my curls, pit on a wee bit birr; My hair's a kennin' thin and tousie noo.

Hence birrie, adj., of hair: standing on end.Abd.⁹ 1934:
A birrie pow.

fig., temper.nw., central Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 57:
His impetence set ma birr up. [More commonly Birse.]

Comb.: birr-headed, having stiff, bristling hair.Sc. 1925 Sc. Notes and Q. (July) 109/2:
A blind beggar called “bare — birr-headed blin Jamie.”

2. v. To make to stand up.Bch. 1928 (per Abd.¹⁵):
Wi her hair a' birred up like a heddery besim.

3. Phr.: birr up, standing on end.Gall. 1923 Gallov. Annual 31/2:
His cowt grew reezy, its lang tail 'Twad swash, an' lugs were birr up.