Meaning & Definition of word "Bier"
to
Bier
/bɪər/
noun:
- 1. A frame or stand on which a corpse or coffin is placed.
- Example: The funeral director carefully positioned the coffin on the bier for the service.
- 2. A portable platform for a coffin, especially used in a procession.
- Example: The bier was carried by the pallbearers as they made their way to the grave.
- 3. A structure or frame for displaying an attic of a funeral home.
- Example: During the visitation, the deceased was respectfully placed on the bier at the front of the room.
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English 'byre', which related to a structure for shelter or carrying.
Common Phrases and Expressions
bier of sorrow:
A term that refers to the bier as a symbol of mourning.
to deck the bier:
To decorate the bier, usually with flowers for a funeral.
Related Words
coffin:
A box or chest for storing a dead body.
funeral:
A ceremony honoring a deceased person.
Slang Meanings of bier
Meaning: A humorous term for a place of rest.
Example Sentence: After the long hike, I just want to find a bier to lie on.
Meaning: To be dead or lifeless in a casual context.
Example Sentence: I’m so tired, I feel like I’m on a bier.