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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLAIR, v., n. Also slare; and intensive forms slary, s(c)lairie, -y, s(c)lerich (Per.). [′sler(e), ′sklere, -ɪç]

I. v. 1. To smear, bedaub, cover with (some soft, wet, messy substance), to make a mess at any work (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcd. c.1850; Ags., Per., Clc., Lnk., Ayr., Dmf. 1970).Rnf. a.1794 A. Wilson Poems (1876) II. 11:
Brodie soon slairyed his beard Wi' braw creeshie platefu's of gravy.Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 151:
The Tradestown laird had ply'd the bean, Till slar'd frae lug to lug, man' Wi' snuff, that night.Lnk. 1895 W. Stewart Lilts 85:
Sae, gin ye butter slair ava, On him be't slairt, he'll swallow't a'.Ags. 1912 J. Ogilvie Rhymes 79:
Ilka inch in ilka street Was sclairied ower wi' glaur.Sc. 1924 Sc. Recitations (Harley) 156:
He had slerried a' his ain mooth wi' gold, through sookin' the brush.Per.⁴ 1950:
I'll sune sclerich it wi paint.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick vii.:
He clartit ower 'e pob as muckle mair roset as 'e cud get sclairit on't.

2. tr. and intr. To eat or lick up in a messy, sloppy way, to gobble (food) gluttonously and disgustingly, “to outstrip in eating” (w.Sc. 1880 Jam.). Deriv. slairy, adj., slovenly in one's eating habits (Clc., Rnf., Lnk. 1970).

II. n. Gen. in intensive form slairie, etc.: a smear, daub, smudge, a “lick” of paint (Kcd., Ags., Per., Dmf. 1970); a sticky mess (Kcb. 1950); food spilt on one's clothes (Sc. 1808 Jam.); transf. an untidy slobbering person (Rnf. 1917 Thistle (May) 95).Gsw. 1889 J. Houston Autobiography 109:
A soda scone wi' a slairy o' treacle on't.Per., Ayr. 1958:
I'll gie a sclerich (Per.), slairie (Ayr.) o' paint.