Obs. Forms: 6 birte, byrte, burte, 7 byrt, berte, 6–8 birt, burt. [Derivation and etymological form uncertain: written also brit(e, brut, brytte, BRET, q.v. Cotgrave has ‘bertonneau a bret or turbot. Norman.’ This may be related.] A fish identified with the Turbot.
1552. Huloet, Byrte, fyshe, rhombus.
1573. in Nichols’ Progr. Q. Eliz., I. 362. Item, for a burte … 3s. 8d. … for two brites … 6s.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, iv. 74. Turbut or Birt is meetly pleasant to the taste.
1678. R. Holme, in Babees Bk. (1868), 157, note. He beareth Azure a Birte (or Burt, or Berte).
1706. Phillips, Bret, Brut, or Burt, a Fish of the Turbot-kind.
1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), II. Rhombus, a fish called a birt, or turbot.
