north. dial. Forms: 1 bearn- 3 bern-, barn-team, -tem, beren-tem, 4 barn-, barne-teem, 4–5 barn(e-tem(e, 4–6 tyme, 5 -teame, 7 bairn-teme, 8 -time, 9 -teem; see also BARM-TEAM. [f. BAIRN + TEAM.] Brood of children, offspring, family; posterity.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. xiv. 1. Fultumlease æt hiora bearnteamum.
c. 1220. Hali Meid., 31. In breades wone brede ti barnteam.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3747. Chore was is bernteam.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 4828. We ar all a man barnteme [Fairf. MS. an monnes barneteme].
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., 57. Þe firste of þis foule barnetyme.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 212. Wepe nothyng for me Bot for ȝoure self and ȝoure barneteme.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. xiii. 134. Bair at a birth … that barntyme miserabill.
1637. Rutherford, Lett., 105 (1862), I. 266. The fair flock and blessed bairn-teme of the first-born.
1786. Burns, A Dream, ix. Thae bonnie bairntime, Heav’n has lent.
1855. Whitby Gloss., Bairnteems, troops of children.
