Page:An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland Part I.pdf/168

handle; Wests. [bıᶇək, beᶇək]; Br. [bəᶇək]. In St. esp. of one of the so-called bighters: small sinkers on a long-line (fishing-line), one to each bugt (q.v.) or coil; in Br. esp. of larger sinkers, kappi, on a fishing hand-line or long-line, and further, in the form bonjek [bȯᶇək]. bänjek [bäᶇək, bꜵ̈ᶇək], a round stone easy to handle (Fo.), lumpy stone (Esh., Nm^w.). The etymology of this word is uncertain. No. byngja, f., big or bulgy figure, might be compared — by referring to Shetl. bangi, sb.

bipong [bi̇̄påŋ], sb., small hook on the line along with a big one. Uⁿ. A dissyllable of uncertain origin. The first syllable bi- seems to be A.S. and M.Eng. be, bi, prep. and adv., by; beside; close to, (Mod. Eng. by, Ger., bei). pong might be taken to be a deriv. of O.N. spǫng, f., small metal plate; iron band, as the initial s in Shetl. is sometimes dropped before the consonants, esp. in the combs. sk and sp (thus: kattamilliskru; krell, kroll; panni, penni = spann; pon [spánn]; *bulag for a prob. older *buslag).

bir, birr [bər(r)], sb., 1) (fair wind) strong, sudden breeze, now mostly a light, feeble breeze, a b. o’ wind (prob. through infl. of L.Sc. “pirr”, sb., a gentle breeze, also in Shetl.; a p. o’ wind); N.I. 2) haste; hasty movement; bustle; great commotion; excitement; to be in a b.; de(r) were [‘there was’] a great b. [bərr] on him, he dashed away (or round, in a state of great excitement); he was much excited; N.I.; biri, birri [bər(r)i] (N.Roe): he is in a b. on dee, he is embittered against you. — borr [bȯr(r)] (Sa.) = bir 1 and 2. — O.N. byrr, m., fair wind; No. “byr” also: propulsion; speed (No. byrja, vb., to set going vigorously; to take hold of energetically, etc.). In the sense of excitement, bir, bir(r)i

is poss. merged into another word (cf. No. byrren, adj., angry; fiery, prop. “that raises the bristles”; see Shetl. birst, borst, adj.

bir, birr [bər(r)], vb., 1) to commence to blow, b. op; he begins to b. op; it begins to blow; De.; 2) to sail before a fair wind; shø [‘she’] is birin alang [‘along’], the boat or ship makes good headway. O.N. byrja, vb., to set going, etc. See bir, sb.

birdek [bırdək, berdək], sb., a heavy burden; somewhat ironically or jokingly. Also berdek [bɛrdək, bærdək]. N.I. O.N. byrðr, f., a burden.

birdin [bərdin], sb., in the compd. “boddom-b. [boddom = bottom]”, the bottom planks of a boat. Also berdin [bɛrdin]. L. Prob.: *byrði (or byrðingr?); Icel. byrði, n., the covering of planks round a ship (B.H.); O.N. byrðingr, m., boat; vessel. Cf. bordin, sb.

birek, birrek [bırək, berək], sb., rather strong and sudden breeze, wind, = opgeng. Also bjerek [bjerək]. U. Deriv. of bir, sb.

birk [bə‘rk], sb., 1) a species of aquatic plant, belonging to the willow family; also called “widi” and “water-willow”. 2) used in the phrase: “As bare as de b. a jøl-day”, of something very bare and naked. — Must be the word birk (O.N. bjǫrk, f., L.Sc. birk, sb., birch).

birkikepp, -klepp, sb., see berkikepp and -klepp.

birl, birrel, sb. and vb., see borl, borrel and burl, burrel.

birliband [bər··libānd·], sb., a band which is tied over the mouth of a straw-basket (kessi, bødi); L.; De. (M.Roe). Also burli- and borliband [bor··libānd-, bȯr··li-] (Wests.). *byrðilband; No. byrdel, m., a handle (Aa.), handle-shaped carrying-strap (R).

birren [bərən], sb., sea-term (tabu-name) for otter; also borren [bȯrən].