bairn

plural bairns

1. Scotlandand parts of Northern EnglandA child or baby.

   Bobby Shaftoe's getten a bairn For to dandle in his arm; In his arm and on his knee, Bobby Shaftoe loves me.

   1998, Jonathan Langley, Collins Bedtime Treasury of Nursery Rhymes and Tales, Bobby Shaftoe, page 87

   2 more examples

   She moved about the country like a ghost, gathering herbs in dark loanings, lingering in kirkyairds, and casting a blight on innocent bairns.

   1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

   They say that a shag is good for an unborn child, they get the circulation of blood, or some shite. The least ah kin dae is take an interest in the bairn’s welfare.

   1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 219

present singular third person bairns · participle present bairning · participle past bairned · past bairned

1. ScotlandtransitiveTo get (someone) pregnant.

   Go and kick the man that bairned your Nancy.

   1992, Robin Jenkins, Happy for the Child, page 108

   1 more example

   Just because he's signed up fir the fuckin army again, six bastard years this time, and bairned some slag.

   1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 171