? a. or sb. Obs. In 3 beuir, 5 Sc. bevar. [Of doubtful origin and meaning: most conjectures refer it to BEVER v. to tremble, shake.] Known only in bevar hore. Since ME. hore (now HOAR, q.v.) was both adj. ‘hoary,’ and sb. ‘greybeard (Ger. greis), it remains uncertain whether bevar was an adj. ‘feeble, worn-out,’ or a sb. ‘old man’ or ? ‘feeble old man.’
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 627. And þu þen beuir hore sixst þe biforen stonden.
c. 1450. Henryson, Age & Youth. The bevar hoir said to this birly berne.
[1808. Jamieson, Sc. Dict., s.v., ‘We still say a bevir-horse for a lean horse, or one worn out with age or hard work.’]
