The AI-powered English dictionary
plural bairns
(Scotland, and parts of Northern England) A child or baby. quotations 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 , Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, London: Minerva, page 219
Bobby Shaftoe's getten a bairnFor 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
third-person singular simple present bairns, present participle bairning, simple past and past participle bairned
(transitive, Scotland) To make pregnant. quotations examples
Go and kick the man that bairned your Nancy.
1992, Robin Jenkins, Happy for the Child, page 108
Just because he's signed up fir the fuckin army again, six bastard years this time, and bairned some slag.
1994 , Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, London: Minerva, page 171