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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Snair, Snar(e, n. Also: snaire, snayr(e. [ME and e.m.E. snare (a1300), snarr (Cursor M.), snayre (1570), ON snara.]

1. A snare, trap (for catching birds, etc.). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1923.
This swallow, quhilk eschaipit is the snair

b. transf. or fig. A trap, circumstances, a situation, etc. leading or intended to lead to (a person's) physical, emotional, moral, etc. entrapment; also, rarely, where the trap or mechanism of entrapment is a person.(1) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4010.
Sax moneth did that sege indure … Thare wes the prophesie compleit, As Christ … to thame … said … Within schort tyme sall cum the day That men of this ciete sall say, Quhen thay ar trappit in the snair [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2231.
Ane reproche to the emprice … to ȝow I declair Of hell thow art the snair 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2379.
Ȝe cum not in … Quhill that the watche betak ȝow in the snair 1567 G. Ball. 162.
Thow sall me gyde from gyrne and snair a1568 Scott xxxiv 3.
Ȝe blindit luvaris … Espy the snair and huke That haldis ȝow be the heid 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii 111.
Quhen I was hird the scheip was in ane snair, Lyke till ane flok of hennis befoir ane tod a1578 Pitsc. I 40/17.
Sic collouris and painttit wordis they [send this] gentillman to draw him in the snair c1590 Fowler I 146/7.
The snaire … Quhairin I rin with ioy to my misheife 1596 Soc. Ant. IV 157.
To put me in ane snair, that he mycht gett the lands of Kintyre … begane to putt at me and my kin 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 223.
[The said letters have been obtained … only to draw them in] snairis and incovenientis and under danger of penalteis 1615 Highland P. III 281.
Quhairby the rebellis may draw thame in ony snair or ambushment 1650 Brechin Presb. 54.
[The King's] exercise of the abominationes in … putting of himselff and kingdom both under snaires and wraith 1651 Laing MSS 261.
Instead of saveguards they wold be snaires and trappes to ruin those that trusted to them(b) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 369.
Swa undir pretence of that plausabill argument to draw eftir thame … personis easie to be seduced … to be trapped in sa dangerous a snare a1680 Blair Autob. 42.
That there was a snare lying in the frequent inviting me to dispute 1650 Comm. Gen. Assembly III 186.
That your Majestie would keep your selfe from familiaritie … with these who may prove snares to your Majestie 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 150.
That we … haue sufferit such ane snar and slaverie to be brought vpon the Lords people 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 263.
Litle knowing … what a snare and fallacy lay hid [etc.](2) 1562-3 Winȝet I 60/33.
That the sempill beleuear may haif sufficient licht to eschew the dissaitful snairis of the erroneous 1567 Sat. P. iv 129.
Quhair Venus anis gettis in hir gouernance Sic sylit subiectis felterit in hir snair 1558-66 Knox II 432.
That thay may cum to amendment, out of the snair of the Devill 1585 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 15.
I pray most humbly the Creatoure … to cast thaime in their ouin snayres c1590 J. Stewart 148/12.
Sic filthie air … dois spring From mouths … That in thair snair thay ay misfaie all thing 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 32/6.
To be catched in his euerlasting snares and fetters 1650 Alyth Par. Ch. 86.
Prayer … that our king may harken to the cownsels of truth and peace and be delivered from the snare of malignant cownsellers(3) a1585 Maitl. Q. 211/89.
Taine in the snair of fals subtilitie 1649 Cullen Kirk S. 19 Aug.
To deliver our king from the snar of malignant counsell(4) 1656 Johnston Diary III 23.
The sins of my publik imployments … My snar at Newcastle [etc.] 1657 Robertson Cullen Ch. Ann. 57.
The great abuse of keeping … such a character in the town to the great offence … of the Gospel and snares of others ?1644 W. Guthrie Serm. 14 (Jam.).
Folks poring over much on the tentation is their neck-break and their snare(5) 1661 Butler Leighton 305.
Let it not be a sin or snar to him 1696 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 231.
His poverty and his place as nottar public was a snare to him

2. A noose, in Nisbet after Wyclif. Also attrib. with cord. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxvii 5.
He [sc. Judas] … hangit him withe a snareattrib. a1400 Leg. S. xii 288.
& resone wald that his throt ware Vith a snar cord hangyt ful sare