bier

[ beer ]

noun

1. a frame or stand on which a corpse or the coffin containing it is laid before burial.
2. such a stand together with the corpse or coffin.

bier

/ bɪə /

noun

1. a platform or stand on which a corpse or a coffin containing a corpse rests before burial

Word History and Origins

Origin of bier¹

before 900; Middle English bere, Old English bēr, bǣr ( e ); cognate with Old High German bāra ( German Bahre ), Dutch, Danish baar, Swedish bår; spelling influenced by French bière; akin to bear ¹, barrow ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bier¹

Old English bǣr ; related to beran to bear ¹, Old High German bāra bier, Sanskrit bhārá a burden

Example Sentences

So they laid her on a bier, and all seven of them sat down beside it and wept and wept for three whole days.

From The Daily Beast

The corpse was lying in a narrow coffin, upon a low bier, both of which were covered with a white pall.

From Project Gutenberg

I went in rather early, and came upon two men carrying the parish bier back to its place under the tower.

From Project Gutenberg

When Justin returned, ropes were passed round the leafy bier and the body was lowered by concerted effort.

From Project Gutenberg

There is an old funeral bier in one part of it, and we have failed to ascertain the precise object of the article.

From Project Gutenberg

From top to bottom of the granite ran long red lines, which might have been compared to oozings from a funeral bier.

From Project Gutenberg