birse

See also: Birse

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Scots birse (“bristle, hair”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɜː(ɹ)s/

Noun

birse (plural birses)

1. (Scotland) bristle

Derived terms

• lick the birse
• set up someone's birse

References

“birse”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Biser, biers, brise

Scots

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bɪrs], [bʌrs]

Noun

birse (plural birses)

1. bristle, hair
2. sheaf, plume (of bristles)
3. beard
4. anger, temper

Derived terms

• birsies (“bristles”) (diminutive)
• pit the birse up (“to make angry or ill-tempered”)
• whirl o birse (“the ace of spades”)

Verb

birse (third-person singular simple present birses, present participle birsin, simple past birsed, past participle birsed)

1. to put a bristle on
2. to flare up, get angry

Derived terms

• birsie (“bristly, hairy; hot-tempered, passionate; of the weather: keen, sharp; difficult”)
• birsed-ends (“a shoemaker's thread”)

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bɪrz], [bʌrz]

Noun

birse (plural birses)

1. (medicine) bruise
2. pressure

Verb

birse (third-person singular simple present birses, present participle birsin, simple past birsed, past participle birsed)

1. to bruise
2. to push, press, squeeze

Derived terms

• birse ben a bit (“move along a bit”)
• birse tae (“push to”)