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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BUIRDLY, Boor(d)ly, Beirdly, Bierly, Buirlie, Boardly, adj. Also bourdlie (Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 142). Stalwart, well-built, powerful; of health, robust. Also fig. Gen.Sc. [′bø:r(d)lɪ̢, ′bu:r(d)lɪ̢ I.Sc., sn.Sc.; ′bi:rlɪ̢ + ′bju:rlɪ̢ ne.Sc.; ′bø:rdlɪ̢ m.Sc.; ′bo:rdlɪ̢ Slk.]Sh.(D) 1898 “Junda” Echoes from Klingrahool 52:
Der mony a shange. Da sookin bairn Is noo a boordly, strappin man.Ork. 1911 J. Spence in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. IV. iv. 186:
Tha Hillside men than war boorly fallows as thu wad fund in a dae's wakk.Abd.(D) 1788 J. Skinner Christmass Bawing xiii. in Caled. Mag. 500:
His Cousin was a bierly Swank, A stier young man heght Robb.m.Sc. 1934 J. Buchan Free Fishers viii.:
He's a lath of a lad, and not buirdly like your honour.Per. 1908 R. Ford in Glasgow Ballad Club III. 227:
The Lowthers and the Grampians, Sae buirdly an sae braw.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Sc. Poems (1925) 35:
They say, ill ale has been the deid O' mony a beirdly lown.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross The Scot at Hame 44:
And for buirlie men and fechters, Snuff and parritch, mountain-dew.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man I. iv.:
Striking up their swords as he came, and interposing his boardly frame between the combatants.Dmf. 1898 J. Paton Castlebraes 146: 
Eneuch at least tae susteen them a' in buirdly health.