Obs. Also 3 beare, 4 ber, 5 beyr, 6 (Sc.) beir. [ME. beare, bere, apparently short for ibere clamor, outcry; the earlier text of Layamon has always ibere, the latter only beare. In form, ibere is:OE. ʓebǽre bearing, behavior, gesture, = OS. gibâri, MDu. gebaar, MHG. gebære, in same sense, f. beran to bear. The history of the change of meaning is not evident; but it appears also in OFris. bʓre strepitus, clamor (Mätzner), where also the prefix ge- has been dropped; the MDu. gebaar also meant noise, strepitus, as well as behavior. In later times the word is only Sc., whence the spelling beir: the mod. Eng. would have been normally bear.]
Clamor, outcry, shouting, roaring; the noise of voices of men or animals.
[a. 800. O. E. Chron., an. 755. On ðæs wifes ʓebærum [Laud MS. ʓe bæron] onfundon ðæs cyninges ðegnas ða unstilnesse.]
c. 1205. Lay., 25828. Wanliche iberen [1250 reuliche beares]. Ibid., 28162. Me mihte iheren Brutten iberen [Bruttune beare).
c. 1330. Florice & Bl., 457. Asked what here were That hi makede so loude bere.
c. 1400. Rowland & Ot., 183. Ȝelde thi suerde to mee, & late be alle this bere.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 249. Abyde withe alle thi boste and beyr.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 38. Foulis ande beystis maid grite beir.