Forms: 1 bǽr, ber, 2–3 bære, 2–6 bere, 3 bare, 4–7 beer(e, 5–6 Sc. beyr, 5–7 bear(e, 6 beir(e, 6–7 biere, 6– bier. [Com. Teut.: OE., WSax. bǽr, Anglian bér, = OS., OHG. bâra (MHG. bâre, mod.G. bahre), OTeut. *bêrâ fem. f. beran to bear; cf. ON. barar fem. pl., also BARROW. The modern spelling (since 1600) appears to be due to imitation of the F. form bière, ad. OHG. bâra (cf. Pr. bera, It. bara).]
† 1. A framework for carrying; a handbarrow; a litter, a stretcher. Obs. exc. Hist.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, V. xix. (Bosw.). On his þegna handum on bære boren wæs.
c. 975. Rushw. G., John v. 8. Aris & ʓinim bere ðine & gaa.
c. 1300. Beket, 899. I bare in barewe other in bere.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. iii. 27. They toke him vp and bare him out vpon a beare.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 108. On beers her softlye reposing.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xii. Sommers greene all girded vp in sheaues Borne on the beare with white and bristly beard.
1851. Turner, Dom. Arch., I. iv. 140. Horse litters or beres were also in use.
2. The movable stand on which a corpse, whether in a coffin or not, is placed before burial; that on which it is carried to the grave.
a. 1000. Elene (Gr.), 873. And ʓefarenne man [hi] Brohton on bære.
c. 1200. Ormin, 8167. All the bære wass bileȝȝed With bæten gold and silferr.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20703. Four of þapostles ber þe bere.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Sam. iii. 31. Forsothe Dauid folwide the beere [Coverd. bere].
1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 211. Whosoeuer was chosen Bishop there, should come to the Beare, and lay his Predecessours hand upon his head.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. iii. 31. King Dauid himselfe followed the biere. Ibid., Luke vii. 14. Hee came and touched the beere.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., i. 7. Feretra or Beers of Wood.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus., 100. He had seiz’d the Bier.
1877. Bryant, Lit. People Snow, 303. Following the bier, Chanted a sad and solemn melody.
b. Put for the corpse on the bier. rare.
1596. Spenser, Astrophel, 149. The dolefulst beare that euer man did see, Was Astrophel.
3. transf. A tomb, a sepulcher.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. i. 116. To Polidorus wp a beir We ereckit.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 600. Tuke the Scottis in the feild war slane, To Crissin bereis in the tyme thame buir.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. iii. 11. He was surprisd, and buried under beare.
1808. Scott, Marm., I. Introd. Drop upon Fox’s grave a tear, ’Twill trickle to his rival’s bier.
† 4. To bring to, on, or upon (one’s) bier: to bring to the grave or to death, to put to death; in passive, to meet one’s death, die. Obs.
c. 1480. Childe Bristowe, 132, in E. P. P. (1864), 116. Sone, now y pray the, myn attourney that thu be, when y am broght to bere.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. x. 138. This Dardane prince Sa mony douchty corpsis brocht on beyr.
1530. Lyndesay, Test. Papyngo, 405. Quhat nobyll men bene brocht vpon thair beris!
1559. Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk, xvi. Through privy murder we brought him to his beere. Ibid., Mempr., v. When I had my brother brought on beire.
5. Comb. and Attrib., as bier-carrier; † bier-balk, a balk in a field where there is a right of way for funerals; bier-cloth, a pall; † bier-right, an ordeal in which a person, accused of murder, was required to approach the corpse, and clear himself on oath; † bier-tree, the frame of a bier.
1563. Homilies, II. Rogation Wk., IV. (1640), 237. Where their ancestors left of their land a broad and sufficient *beere-balke to carry the corps to the Christian sepulture.
1654. Trapp, Comm. Job xxxiii. 22. His life … to the *Bier-carryers, say the Tigurines.
1549. Invent. Ch. Goods, in Norfolk Archæol. (1865), VII. 34. Itm ij *beer clothes, whereof the on is of blacke worsted, the other of canvasse.
1693. Lond. Gaz., No. 2845/4. Two black *Bier Cloths.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, II. 237. I have heard of the *bier-right, Sir Louis.
c. 1440. Bone Flor., 1350. Broght hym home on a *bere-tree.
