Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.