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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fair, Fayr, Fare, n. Also: fayre, faire. [ME. faire, feire (c 1330), OF. feire.] A periodic occasion of buying and selling, held at certain places.(a) c1420 Wynt. ix. 49.
Anys at Roxburgh fayre Off Scottis men maid gret repayre 14.. Acts I. 38/2.
Thar sal nan be takyn na attachyt wythin that ilke fayr, … bot gif he breke the pece of the fayr 1460 Ayr Charters 34.
For als mykill as we haff grantit … a fayr to be haldyn ȝerli at the fest of Sant Michaell 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 119.
For a blak horss boycht … in the fayre 1533 Dunfermline Reg. MS. I. 22.
Eftir the proclamatione of the cry of the fayr 1559 Inverness B. Rec. I. 37.
He hes brokyn ane arrestment in the hawing of barkit ledyr to Coan fayr efter the same var inhibitt(b) 1502 Acta Conc. MS. XI. 148.
The fairis … quhilkis war wont til be kepit on the feistis of al hallowday 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 324/2.
Gevand thame power to proclame ane faire of the morne efter the feste of Sanct James … , and ȝerely to endure for sex dais 1570 Leslie 127.
Every trinitye sonday thair is keipit ane greit faire in the said towin 1596 Dalr. I. 140/12.
Gret merkatis, now called fairis, he institute in sindrie places 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II. 5.
Finding that Sanct Androis day hes thes mony aiges bygane beene keept as ane publict and free faire within this burgh 1690 Paisley B. Rec. 118.
The granting of two yearly ffairs … to be keeped yearly at the said Toune of Pasley(c) 1456 Acts II. 47/1.
Of gret stallis of merchandice the quhilkis cumis on horsis bakkis or coueryt cramys, that occupyis the faris 1507 Edinb. Chart. 192.
Als frelie as ony vtheres fre faris are … haldin and vsit … at ony vthere toune 1557 Ayr Chart. 44.
To hald … ane court efter ilkane of the saidis twa faris upon sic faillis … as salhappin to be committit in the saidis faris 1647 St. A. Presb. 114.
To desire them to forbeare ther ensueing fares be reasone of the pestilence

b. Attrib. with evin, time. (See also Fair-day.) 1540 Irvine Mun. I. 45.
The tyme of the hicht of the mercat apon the fayr eyne of the assumptione of our ladye 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 200.
It is agreyet that … the provost, baillies, [and] counsall … sall yearlie upoun Trinity fair evin … ryde the touns marches 1697 Peebles B. Rec. II. 158.
The loss … through the mercat breaking up upon ilk fairevin — 1576 Lanark B. Rec. 71.
On the fair tyme [a custom of] ane plak of ilk pak or laid