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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LYART, adj. Also lyert, liard, lyred; misprint lairt (Dmf. 1878 R. W. Thom Jock o' Knowe 36). [′lɑeərt]

1. Usu. of the hair: streaked with white, grizzled, silvery (Sc. 1755 Johnson Dict.), dappled, of a horse. Now only liter.Sc. 1710 Sc. Courant (2–4 Aug.):
A black din lyred Horse-Staig . . . with the Hair unpolled.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 166:
Now Nereus rising frae his watry Bed, The Pearly Drops hap down his lyart Head.Rxb. 1755 Caled. Mercury (15 May):
The Grey Mare stands a little on the lyert or glead Colour, a little high on the Rumple where the Seat lies.Ayr. 1786 Burns Cotter's Sat. Night xii.:
His lyart haffets wearing thin an' bare.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 76:
But now auld age, an' this unchancy deed, Brings shame in sackfu's on my lyart head.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Men of Moss-Hags xxii.:
His hair lyart and long, fell upon his shoulders.Sc. 1929 Holyrood (Hamilton) 46:
Whare the lyart lint doth grow.Sc. 1983 John McDonald in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 45:
I kent her in youthheid,
sae gowden-bobbed (nou sae lyart) em.Sc. 1988 James Robertson in Joy Hendry Chapman 52 72:
Weill, they sat an they spied, an the derk drew in, an their lang lyart bairds raxed doun tae their hochs, an on they sat, an a bit haar crap up on their sax auld buits, ...

2. Variegated, multi-coloured, streaked with two colours, esp. red and white.Ayr. 1785 Burns Jolly Beggars Recit. i.:
When lyart leaves bestrew the yird.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 1:
Hail, lovely Spring! thy bonny lyart face, And head wi' plumrocks deck'd.e.Lth. 1885 S. Mucklebackit Rural Rhymes 59:
An' between them, lyart-mantled, wi' her patient mien an' sweet, Autumn comes.wm.Sc. 1937 W. Hutcheson Chota Chants 40:
The hills are lyart; fast across the skies The scudding clouds the flying rain gods chase.