byr (OSw) by (ODan) byr (OGu) by (ON) býr (ON) bær (ON) bǿr (ON) noun

This word has several different but associated meanings. At the lowest level, it can be a synonym for OSw bolstaþer (‘farmstead’), then it can mean ‘village’ (comprising a number of farmsteads forming a community) or habitation in general and finally it can mean a ‘town’ (as opposed to the countryside). The first two meanings are the most common. Used in the expression by ok bolstaþer or the compound byabolstaþer to mean ‘village and the related farmland’.

farm OIce Grg Tíg 258
OIce Jó Kge 32 Lbb 1, 3 Þjb 12
ONorw EidsL 10.6 11.4
ONorw FrL KrbA 23 Mhb 4 Rgb 4
ONorw GuL Llb, Tfb
OSw ÄVgL Föb
OSw HL Blb
OSw SdmL Bb
OSw YVgL Utgb
farmstead OIce Jó Mah 10 Lbb 5 Llb 15, 42
OIce Js Mah 14 Lbb 1, 18
OIce KRA 4, 11
ONorw GuL Krb, Llb
OSw UL Äb, Mb, Jb, Blb
OSw VmL Äb, Mb, Jb, Bb
habitation OGu GL A 22
hamlet OSw HL Kgb, Jb, Kmb, Blb
homestead OSw DL Tjdb
house OIce Grg Þsþ 77
OIce Js Mah 5
town ODan SkBL
OSw BjR
OSw MESt SmbI
OSw VmL Rb
village ODan ESjL 2, 3
ODan JyL 1−3
ODan SkKL 11
ODan SkL passim
ODan VSjL 60, 71, 72, 75−78, 80
OSw ÄVgL Kkb, Md, Äb, Gb, Rlb, Jb, Kva, Tb
OSw DL Kkb, Eb, Mb, Bb, Tjdb, Rb
OSw HL Mb, Blb, Rb
OSw KrL Kgb Jb Bb Kmb Hb DbII Tb
OSw MEL Jb Bb Hb DbII Tb
OSw MESt Hb DbII
OSw ÖgL Db Jb Rb Bb
OSw SdmL Kkb, Kgb, Jb, Bb, Kmb, Mb, Tjdb, Rb, Till
OSw UL Kkb, Kgb, Äb, Mb, Jb, Kmb, Blb, Rb
OSw VmL Kkb, Kgb, Äb, Mb, Jb, Kmb, Bb, Rb
OSw YVgL passim
Expressions:

by ok bolstaþer (OSw)

village and farmland OSw UL Jb VmL Bb

bygd byr (OSw)

settled village OSw ÖgL Gb, Jb

bysins iarn (OSw)

town irons OSw BjR

Refs:

CV s.v. bær; KLNM, s.v.v. landsby, stad; Miller 1990, 115; Schlyter s.v. byr