buirdlyadj.

Etymology: probably a modern perversion of the earlier Scots buirly , goodly, stout, burly n. Less probably representing Old English gebyredlíc suitable, seemly, meet, < gebyrian, Old Northumbrian byra to be pertinent, become, be becoming, with sense ‘comely’. In the latter case, the modern Scots ui would have to be explained as altered from earlier i , ie , which is perhaps unparalleled. (Modern Scots ui , /ø//y/ normally represents Old English ó , Middle English ō , or French u ). If = buirly , burly n., we may suppose buirdly to be due to the ordinary popular association of the word with buird , board n., which is further seen in the anglicized form boardly used by modern Scottish writers. Bierly, bierdly are then regular north-eastern dialect forms of buirly, buirdly.