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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EFFEIR, v. Also †effear. To be becoming, appropriate, to pertain, relate, correspond, concern. See also Affeir. [ə′fir]

1. Used absol. or with to, till; most commonly found as pr.p.Sc. 1705 Records Conv. Burghs (1880) 359:
5th Feb.: . . . effeiring to the said seaven shillings of the taxt roll.Abd. 1781 in Process Powis v. Fraserfield (1805) 308:
Disposition . . . of a half-net's fishing, and sea-fishing effeiring thereto.Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VII. 472:
To make these weights [pundlar and bismar] be understood . . . it is necessary to state how these weights effeir.Sc. ?1818 Scott Letters (1933) V. 108:
I shall be entitled to a share effeiring to my interest.Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 134:
Ay! ye say ye've kent o' sic-like: Sae, I daursay, hae we a'; But, effeirin till auld Jenny, She was nocht like that ava.Sc. 1951 Scotsman (7 Sept.):
Included in the sale there is . . . the land effeiring to the hotel of approximately 31 acres.

2. Impers. intr. use in Sc. law = to appertain, to fall by right: now obs. exc. in phr. (in form) as effeirs, in the proper way, in due form (Sc. 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 31); “still used in some documents; e.g. in ecclesiastical citations” (Abd.¹⁶ 1950).Gsw. 1700 Charters City Gsw. (ed. Marwick and Renwick 1906) 286:
To be made, given and granted to the said provost, baillies . . . in such due and competent form as effeirs.Ayr. 1707 in Arch. and Hist. Coll. Ayr. and Wgt. (1884) IV. 223:
13th Mar.: . . . the said Judg . . . ordains executione to pass hearupon in form, as effears.Abd. 1722 in Process Powis v. Fraserfield (1805) 325:
Thereafter the court lawfully fenced and affirmed as effeirs.Sc. 1945 J. T. Cox Practice C. of Scot. 302:
To compear before the said court . . .to bear true witness . . . with certification as effeirs.