Sc. and north. Eng. A corrupted form of BYRLAW, q.v., used in comb. Burleyman, also Burleybailie, an officer of a byrlaw-court; see quot. 1879.
[1599. Skene, Verb. Signif. (Jam.). Laws of Burlaw are maid & determined be consent of neichtbors … quhilk … ar commonly called Byrlaw-man.]
1750. C. Campbell, in Stewart’s Trial App., 146. I … think it’s quite right to have burliemen…. You will therefore appoint two discreet honest men for that purpose of the tenants; and … be sure you swear them to fidelity in their office.
c. 1758. Ramsay, Poems (1800), II. 536. Jude took him for a burlie-bailie.
1864. A. McKay, Hist. Kilmarnock, 108. Twelve young men, with such a number of the burliemen in town.
1875. Lanc. Gloss. (E.D.S.), 62. Burly-man.
1879. Athenæum, 26 July, 115. Will you permit me … to inform you that Burleymen are still appointed at the Courts Leet and Courts Baron? Men of agricultural experience are always chosen, and their duty is to value damages, e.g., to crops, from cattle straying, or the like.
