Sc. A corrupted form of BYRLAW, used in comb. birley-court, birlie-man. (See also BURLEY.)
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 74. Birlaw courts, the quhilks are rewled be consent of neighbours.
1609. Hume, Admon., in Wodr. Soc. Misc., 587. Birlay Courtis.
1750. C. Campbell, in Scots Mag. (1753), 454/2. I think it is quite right to have birliemen.
1791–9. Statist. Acc. Scot., IV. 512 (Jam.). Crawford This towne consists of above 20 freedoms.—This little republic was governed by a birley court, in which every proprietor of a freedom had a vote.
1798. D. Graham, Hist. John C., Wks. 1883, II. 102. The good man being a sworn birley-man of that barony.
1814. Scott, Wav., xlii. Jamie Howie, wha’s no fit to be a birlieman, let be a bailie.
1866. Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, 261. Birley Courts, in the traditions of the Borders a name for any particularly stormy meeting.
