Literary notes about bicker (AI summary)
The word "bicker" has been employed in literature with a delightful range of meanings, often evoking movement and sound. For example, in one instance it vividly captures the image of a stream as it "bicker[s] down a valley," showcasing a lively, sparkling flow through nature [1]. In Robert Burns’ works, the term takes on additional nuances: it appears as slang for a wooden cup, a short run, and even as a descriptor for the swift, subtly noisy flow of water [2]–[3]. Moreover, Burns playfully juxtaposes colloquial phrasing and local dialect elements, as seen in [4]. Through these varied examples, "bicker" emerges as a versatile term capable of conveying both the physical essence of flowing water and the culturally rich texture of everyday life.
- THE BROOK I come from haunts of coot and hern, I make a sudden sally, And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down a valley.
— from The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie and J. Berg Esenwein - Beuk, a book: devil's pictur'd beuks-playing-cards. Bicker, a wooden cup. Bicker, a short run. Bicker, to flow swiftly and with a slight noise.
— from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns - Beuk, a book: devil's pictur'd beuks-playing-cards. Bicker, a wooden cup. Bicker, a short run. Bicker, to flow swiftly and with a slight noise.
— from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns - In cog or bicker, An' just a wee drap sp'ritual burn in, An' gusty sucker!
— from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns