subs. (old).—A term of contempt: see quot. 1888.
1449. Act 6 James II (1597), 22. Gif there be onie that makes them fuilis and are BAIRDES, or vthers sic like rinnares about. Ibid. (1457), 80. Sornares, BAIRDES, maister-full beggers or feinziet fuiles.
c. 1500. KENNETH, Stat. [BALFOUR, Practicks, 680]. All vagabundis, fulis, BARDIS, scudlaris, and siclike idill pepill, sall be brint on the cheek.
c. 1505. DUNBAR, The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedy, l. 49. Iersche brybour BAIRD, wyle beggar with thy brattis.
1609. SKENE, Rej. Mag., 135. Feinzied fooles, BAIRDES, rynners about … after sundrie punishments, may be hanged.
1888. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. BARD. In early Lowland Scotch used for a strolling musician or minstrel, into which the Celtic bard had degenerated, and against whom many laws were enacted; in 16th cent., a term of contempt, but idealised by Scott to mean an epic poet, a singer.
