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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WEIR, n.¹ Also wier, weer; wyre (Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shep. MS. 125). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. war (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Now only liter. [wi(ə)r]Sc. 1714 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 15:
Altho he was nae Man of Weir.Sc. p.1746 Jacobite Minstr. (1829) 303:
The frumpy froward Duke Wi' a' his brags o' weir, joe.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 174:
Lang syne, in troublesome times, in Cromwell's days When weers and mister had harash'd the braes.Edb. 1796 H. MacNeill Poet. Wks. II. 24:
At tilts and tournaments o' weir.Kcb. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 69:
King Crispin, wha in nobler weirs Had aften bled.Sc. 1828 Lord Livingston in Child Ballads No. 262 xiv.:
The next an weed that he drew on. It was a weed o weir.Abd. 1847 W. Thom Rhymes 49:
I marked the hue o' crimson weir, Bedeck the breast o' my bairnie dear.Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 60:
Ye ministers, an' men o' weir, Peace sogers, an' laund sailors.Kcb. 1948 Crockett Raiders xxxvii.:
Whenever it came to a tulzie and the swords were sharpened for weir.

Combs. and derivs.: (1) weir-coat, a soldier's tunic; (2) weirfu, warlike, martial; (3) weir-horse, a war-horse, charger; also a stallion (Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads II. 408); (4) weiriour, a warrior. Arch. from O.Sc. weirreour; (5) weirlike, warlike, having a soldierly appearance; (6) wier-saddle, a military saddle; (7) wier-steed, a war-horse. Cf. (3).(1) Sc. 1820 R. A. Smith Sc. Minstrel V. 41:
Of the comeliest scarlet was his weir-coat.Edb. 1864 W. Fergusson Songs 104:
Your weir-coat's a' befyled wi' glaur; I'm fleyed gudeman ye're hurt.(2) Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 53:
But mind ye o' sic dirdum here we saw, When weirfu' Romans first came here awa?Sc. 1923 D. Macalister Echoes 165:
Bot your greyheid daddie's weirfu, Fechter tried an' true.(3) Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 78:
Or he was near a mile awa', She heard his weir-horse sneeze.(4) Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. vi.:
Jesus sal be wi' me as a maughty weiriour.(5) Edb. 1772–3 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 92, 138:
Out spak the weirlike corporal, “Pring in ta drunken sot.” . . . By this did mony wight fu' weirlike bleed.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems II. 17:
Firm stood the weirlike band, In order on the plain.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 51:
But, will-a-wins! your hands are toom O' chappin-stick and weirlike loom, To batter at the bawd o' Rome.Ayr. 1865 J. Ramsay Woodnotes 96:
The drummer o' this weirlike corps.(6) Dmf. 1810 R. Cromek Remains 175:
I threw him from his wier-saddle An' drew my burlie brand.(7) Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 164:
Nae mair about it; up he sprang Upon his weir-steed wi' a bang.