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: 1399-1657
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Barnehede, Bairnheid, n. Also: barnehed, -heid; barn(h)ede, -heid; bairneheid; bernhead, -heid, bearnehead. [ME. barnhede (c 1300), f. Barne n.]
1. Childhood, infancy. a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 652.
Throw a custum of his barnehed a1400 Ib. vii. 394.
That seknes … He had of barnede c1420 Wynt. v. 119.
Till hys barnehede Was passyd, and entryde in manhede c1420 Ib. 144.
In tyll a buk off his barnhede 1456 Hay II. 75/11.
Fra his begynnyng of barnehede till that tyme c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 63/3.
All the charge of syn that he has done in his barnehed a1500 Doug. King Hart 907.
Becaus that thow my barneheid kend 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 63.
Ane bassing and laver siclyk maid for hir in hir barneheid 1588 King Catechism 38.
Euer from my bairnheid 1596 Dalr. I. 235/19.
Frome his barneheid vpp 1596 Ib. II. 52/13.
A woman, brocht vp fra her barneheid sa tendirlie 1600-1610 Melvill 20.
Now almost past from the age of bernheid 1600-1610 Ib. 119.
Till his bernhead was past 1657 Mure II. 253.
The king in his bearne head proponed to round with him
2. Childishness. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii.49.
Sic bairneheid biddis [?leiddis] my brydill renȝe
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"Barnehede n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/barnehede>
