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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

URE, n.³ Also uir, üir, uer, ør. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. ore (Sc. 1808 Jam.). See P.L.D. §§ 35, 128. For ne.Sc. forms see Eer, n.¹, Iron-eer. [ør, yr]

1. Clay with an admixture of iron, barren ferruginous soil, a kind of red gravelly earth (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1973). Comb. uer-red, “small stones of a reddish colour in muddy soil” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Adj. øri, gravelly with an admixture of clay or sand (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sc. 1731 J. Moncrief Receipts 158:
Unwashed Wooll full of Ure.Dmf. 1731 Session Papers, Carlyle v. Sir W. Douglas (7 July) 1:
The Loch's not being keeped clean of Mud and Uir, that is wash'd down from the Hills by the Water.Ags. 1808 Jam.:
‘An ill ure', a bad soil.

2. The fur or metallic scum which adheres to vessels in which liquids have been allowed to stand (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.), ferrous oxide. Hence ury, furred, encrusted with scum (Ib.).

3. Colour, tinge, stain (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.), sc. of a reddish or rusty hue.