Sc. The charred stem of burnt heath, which remains after moor-burning. Hence Birny a., abounding in birns.
1715. Pennecuik, Poems, 25 (Jam.). Toasting bannocks at the birns.
1848. W. Gardiner, Flora Forfar., 88. The fuel used for boiling the water is either peats or birns.
1789. D. Davidson, Seasons, 4 (Jam.). O’er the birny brae.
