/bear/ , n.
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.
[ bef. 900; ME bere, OE ber, baer ( e ); c. OHG bara (G Bahre ), D, Dan baar, Sw bår; sp. influenced by F bière; akin to BEAR 1 , BARROW 1 ]