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.
Quotation dates: 1425, 1500-1605, 1659-1663
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Fire, Fyr(e, v. Also: fyir. [ME. fire, fyre, OE. fýrian.]
1. tr. To set on fire; to kindle. 1425 Acts II. 12/2.
Cleikis of yrn to draw downe tymmer & ruffis at ar fyryt 1513 Doug. ix. iii. 104.
Bargis that … Stude by the costis syde, or thai war fyrit 1531 Bell. Boece I. 147.
The Romane navy … firit thair takillis 1572 Inverness B. Rec. I. 215.
My wallis quhilkis he hes fyirit a1578 Pitsc. II. 201/30.
The laird … that fyrit the traine of poulder 1659 Forbes Baron Ct. 224.
[That no] tennentis … kendle nor fyr muires nor hedder in forbiddin tymefig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvii. 28.
O … tendir flour, That with thi luff has all this regioun firit 1596 Dalr. I. 76/24.
Sa gret appetite … of beiring rule did fyre wpe and inflame baith the peples
2. a. To fire off (a gun). b. To assail with fire. c. To heat by a fire. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 238.
Thay fyrit gunnis with pulder violent 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii. 171.
Out of his dowie den Maist lyke a fox thay fyrit him in his nest 1597 Criminal Trials II. i. 26/7.
Scho … fyrit the watir 1662–3 Peebles B. Rec. II. 202.
4 load peits to fyer the cloak [= clock]
3. intr. a. Of a gun: To go off. b. To catch fire. 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 734/2.
Throw schuting of ane culvering quhilk fyrit of the self a1605 Montg. Son. xxxi. 1.
Feirs thou not to fyre … ?
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"Fire v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fire_v>
