Bairn is a Northern England English, Scottish English and Scots term for a child. [1] It originated in Old English as "bearn", becoming restricted to Scotland and the North of England c. 1700. [2] In Hull the r is dropped and the word Bain is used. [3]
The word was included in the English Dialect Dictionary with variant spellings barn, bayn, bayne that reflect varying pronunciations. [4]
Compare with the Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese and Danish word for child "barn" or the West-Frisian "bern". Also the Latvian "bērns".
Cain bairns are children seized by witches and warlocks as tribute for the devil.
Examples of the term's use include the phrase " Jock Tamson's Bairns" as an idiomatic expression of egalitarian sentiment and the title of the 19th century Geordie folk song " Come Geordie ha'd the bairn." " Baloo Baleerie", a traditional Scottish lullaby, incorporates the term repeatedly, as does " The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry", a traditional folk song from Orkney.
Bairn is a Northern England English, Scottish English and Scots term for a child. [1] It originated in Old English as "bearn", becoming restricted to Scotland and the North of England c. 1700. [2] In Hull the r is dropped and the word Bain is used. [3]
The word was included in the English Dialect Dictionary with variant spellings barn, bayn, bayne that reflect varying pronunciations. [4]
Compare with the Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese and Danish word for child "barn" or the West-Frisian "bern". Also the Latvian "bērns".
Cain bairns are children seized by witches and warlocks as tribute for the devil.
Examples of the term's use include the phrase " Jock Tamson's Bairns" as an idiomatic expression of egalitarian sentiment and the title of the 19th century Geordie folk song " Come Geordie ha'd the bairn." " Baloo Baleerie", a traditional Scottish lullaby, incorporates the term repeatedly, as does " The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry", a traditional folk song from Orkney.