Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Swar, Swair, n. [? Erron. for Snair n. or f. OE searwían to lay snares.] Only in Wall.: A snare, trap. — c1475 Wall. ii 144 (McD.).
Fortoun thus brocht him in the suar [M. snar] c1475 Wall. ii 169.
This land is lost, he caucht is in the swar [1570 snair; rh. cayr] c1475 Wall. vii 211.
Be he entrit hys hed was in the swar [1570 snair; rh. thar] c1475 Wall. (1570) vii 349.
Throw foul gluttony in swair [M. swarff] swappit like swine c1475 Wall. viii 1422.
As quha suld dryff the byrdis till a swar [1570 snair; rh. fayr]