Obs. Law. In 1 bærnet, -nytte, 1–3 bernet. [OE. bærnet, f. bærnan to burn.] Burning, combustion; hence, the crime of arson. Retained as a technical archaism in the Laws of Henry I., whence in 17th c. law dictionaries.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xxii. 9. He wudu ʓeloʓode … to his sunu bærnytte.
c. 1000. Cnut’s Sec. Laws, § 65. Husbryce and bærnet … is botleas.
c. 1150. Leg. Hen. Primi c. 1281 (Schmidt 444). Quaedam non possunt emendari, quae sunt: husbreche et bernet. [In Cowell and other Law Dicts. as an obs. term.]
