Obs. exc. Sc. Forms in sense 1: 1 byrʓen, 2 berien, burien. [OE. byrʓen str. fem. has no parallel forms in the other Teut. langs., but represents a WGer. *burginnja, f. ablaut-stem burg- (borg-) of *berg-an BERGH to protect + innja (cf. BURDEN). But evidence is wanting as to the identity of this with the local Sc. burian, which is not associated with it in sense.]
† 1. A tomb, sepulcher. Obs.
a. 1000. Elene (Gr.), 186. Þy þriddan dæʓe of byrʓenne beorna wuldor of deaðe aras.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxiii. 20. Wa eow … forðam ʓe synt ʓelice hwitum byrʓenum.
c. 1160. Hatton G., ibid. Ȝelic hwite beriene.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 111. [He forðfarene] mon fereð to buriene.
2. Sc. ‘A mound, a tumulus; or, a kind of fortification’ (Jamieson). Usually applied in south of Scotland to a prehistoric ‘camp’ or hill-fort.
1792. Stat. Acc. Scotl., IV. 522. (Kirkpatrick-Juxta) There are a great number of Cairns or burians. Ibid. (1794), XI. 528. (Westerkirk) There is a great number of burians in this parish. These are all of a circular form, and are from 36 to 50 yards diameter. They are supposed by some to be remains of Pictish encampments. Ibid. (1794), XIII. 599. Burians are to be seen in different places, whether British towns or asylums for cattle.
1805. R. Forsyth, Beaut. Scotl., II. 285.
