Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1811, 1892-1897
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HIRR, int., n., v. Also hir, hirri(e); hirs(i) (Jak.). [′hɪr(e)]
I. int., n. A call to a dog to incite him to attack or pursue (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 271; Sh., Cai. 1957); also used in Shetland to scare a pig (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., hirri).Sc. 1811 Farmer's Mag. (Dec.) 527:
"Whitefit, Gowans, Fittie! Hir, Fie, Stie!" All the cottars' collies about the place run . . . [and] set upon a poor animal.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (6 Nov.):
Hirrie, hirrie, Berry.
II. v. To urge a dog to attack (Cai. 1957).Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 192:
Sharp at his heels auld Bawty sprang, Will hirr'd him on.
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"Hirr interj., n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hirr>
