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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLYRE, CLYER, CLIER, Klier, Klyre, Clayer, Cliert, n. [′klɑɪ(ə)r]

1. “A gland in meat” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; w.Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw Country Schoolmaster 345); “the lymphatic gland called The Pope's eye” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.); “an unsound spot occurring in the internal fat of (say) cattle” (Cai.⁹ 1938). Known to Cai.⁷, Kcb.⁹ 1936.

2. Fig. A source of grievance (Cai.⁹ 1938).Sc.(E) 1926 “H. McDiarmid” Drunk Man . . . Thistle 79:
The secret clyre in Scotland's life Has brust and reams through me.

Phrases: (see quots.).Sc. 1808 Jam.:
“To leave no klyres in one's breast,” to go to the bottom of any quarrel or grudge.Sh.(D) 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 229:
I'll no wirry upo' kliers [= I'll speak my mind freely].Cai.⁹ 1938:
There are cliers between these two, i.e. crows to pick.Lnk. 1825 Jam.²:
“He has nae clyres in his heart,” he is an honest upright man.

3. In pl. “A disease in cows similar to Glanders in horses” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.², clayers) (see Dmf. quot.), characterised by “thick saliva, which obstructs the windpipe” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 137, cliers). Watson in Rxb. W.-B. (1923) also gives a form clierts (prob. formed from the ppl.adj. clier't, see below). Always used with def. art.Sc. 1824 J. E. Shortreed in Cornhill Mag. (Sept. 1932) 279:
His client had sold the Cow to a man who having in reality repented of his bargain, insisted on her being taken back on the ground, however, that she had the cliers.Dmf. 1812 W. Singer Gen. View Agric., etc., of Dmf. 357:
A putrid distemper in the throat, attended at first with feverish symptoms, and called the clyers, is hardly ever cured: it seems to be the same with what, in other places, is called the murrain, or gargle, and treated by bleeding, evacuations, and bark in milk; and some think this disease hereditary.Wgt. 1932 Private MS.:
Regarding the cow at Challochglass with the Clyer in the throat.Wgt., Kcb. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
clyers a throat disease in animals (affects breathing, tongue swells).s.Sc. 1825 Jam.²:
My cow dee't i' the clyres fernyear.

Hence clier't, affected with “the clyres.”Sc. 1824 J. E. Shortreed in Cornhill Mag. (Sept. 1932) 279:
I remember once . . . of his [Sir Walter Scott's] being counsel in an appeal Case which was pleaded before Lord Eskgrove, about a clier't cow.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The pigs is a' clier't i' the throat.

4. A sore or gall on the back of a draught horse. Per.⁴ 1950:
He's got a big clayer alow the saddle.m.Lth. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 35:
My neck an' back wi' bluidy clyre Sair sowin' as they'd been afire.