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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLEAR, BLEER, Blair, Blare, v., adj., n. [bli:r Sc., but Mry., Bnff. + ble:r]

Sc. usages:

I. v.

1. “To shine dimly” (Abd.⁹ 1934).Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Sc. Poems (1925) 41:
The cruizy too can only blink and bleer.Hdg. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheephead, etc. 301:
“Such a rain!” Betimes it dawked, and the sun would bleer out for fully ten minutes.

2. ppl.adj. bleert, bleart, bleerit, Sc. spellings for Eng. bleared. (1) Of the eyes: dim-sighted, blinded, inflamed; (2) of the face: stained with weeping; (3) of a person: debauched-looking. Gen.Sc.; (4) of writing: blotted, blurred. First and second meanings are given in N.E.D. s.v. bleared. Examples of (3) and (4) are here given.(3) Arg.¹ 1932:
He's no himsel' this mornin', he's bleart an' beery lookin. I'm thinkin' he's on the spree again.(4) Mry.¹ 1925; Lth., Lnk. 1934 (per Lnk.³):
Bleart, blotted (writing).

3. Phr.: blear one's e'e, blear ilka e'e, to deceive, to blind by flattery. This phrase is given in N.E.D. as common in 16th cent., latest quot. 1860, but not noted in Concise or Un. Eng. Dicts.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. (1817) xxxix.:
“I want nane o' your siller” she said, “to make ye think I am blearing your e'e.”Dmf. 1869 R. Quinn Plain Truth 265:
Ye're blearing ilka e'e owre Daniel's prophecy.

4. To dim (a light etc).em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 11:
They shouer doun like rainfaw; -
Blearit their licht as deid men's een.

II. adj. “Shortsighted” (Mry.¹ 1925, blare).Ayr. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish ii.:
She was a patient creature, well cut out for her calling, with bleer eyn, a pale face, and a long neck.

III. n.

1. “Something that obscures the sight” (Sc. 1808 Jam.); “matter that gathers at the corners of the eyes” (Bnff.² 1934; Uls.² 1929); gen. in pl.Uls. 1910 J. Logan McClusky Twins 82:
Ye'll find I'm richt. The bleers are no' oot of your eyes yet, like a kittlin a day ould.

Phr.: to draw the blear (bleer, blair) ower (our, o'er) the eye, to deceive.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 218:
To draw the blair our the ee, to befool; to cheat.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 86:
'Tis nae to mird wi' unko fouk ye see, Nor is the bleer drawn easy o'er their eye.Abd.⁴ 1929:
To draw the blear ower yer e'e, to get one's good opinion by strategy.

2. pl. The marks of weeping.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 114:
Ye gang craz't, wi' bleers adown yir cheeks.

Comb.: bleer-ee, a sheep affection.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Calendar I. 110:
I'm sure an the flesh be nae good, it sude be good, for it never saw either braxy or breakwind, bleer-ee nor Beltan pock.