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 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vyre, Wyr(e, Vere, v. Also: vire, wyer, veer. [e.m.E. verre (1582), vire (a1586), veer (1598), vere (1686), OF virer (12th c. in Larousse).]

1. tr. To throw (a thing) so as to cause (it) to move along a curving trajectory. 1375 Barb. xvii 704.
Johne Crab, that had his ger all thar, In his fagaldis has set the fyr, And our the wall syne gan thaim wyr [C. wyre], and brynt the sow

2. intr. Of a door: To move about its fixing point. 1456 Hay I 119/14.
The dure turnis about apon the herre, … and vyris and revyris

3. tr. To apply tension to, to wind or pull (a rope or string) in order to cause (it) to move or to adjust (it) or something attached to and controlled by (it). Also const. about.(a) 1549 Compl. 41/15.
Than the master cryit … hail on ȝour top sail scheitis, vire ȝour liftaris and ȝour top sail trossis & heise the top sail 1560 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 20.
It is statut … that na ship ariving at the pier ether laiding or lessing ly nearer the same nor xij foot. And therfor gife they be requirit be the saids pier masters to wyer ther towes they sall wyer xviij foot fra the shoar that ane boat or crear may com betwext them and the shoar and lose or laid(b) a1649 Drummond Wks. (1711) 107.
In musical instruments if a string jar and be out of tune we do not frettingly break it but leisurely veer it about to a concord Urquhart Rabelais iii xvii 140.
A pair of yarn windles which she … unintermittedly veered and frisked about

4. To cause (sails, a ship) to move or turn on an altered course. b. intr. Of a ship: To alter course. 1574 Cal. Sc. P. V 44.
[At their desire, we set topsails,] and vyrit our saillis to gang and speik thame [and having approached near to them they said [etc.]] 1596 Crim. Trials I ii 385.
Ane of his Maiesteis cannoneiris, haifing requyrit the said Johnne Diksoun to vyre his boit to gif place to his Maiesteis ordinance; he fyrst ansuerit that ‘He wald nocht vyre his boit for king or kasard’b. c1620 Boyd Zion's Fl. 134.
This fight it seem'd as when … A galley and carague doe cope together The one strikes quicke the other veres as slowe, Lar-board and star-board … Thence on the wind