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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Feir, Feyr, n. Also: fier, fear, fer. [ME. feor (a 1225), OF. feor, feur, fuer (mod. F. fur), fixed price. L. forum.] The fixed price of grain for the year.In later use fiars, ‘the prices of grain in the different counties, fixed by the sheriffs respectively, in the month of February, with the assistance of juries. The form of striking the fiars is prescribed by the acts of Sederunt, Dec. 21. 1723 and Feb. 29. 1728’ (Bell). 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 47.
Sum sellis folkis sustinance, as God sendis the feyr 1524 Reg. Great S. 61/1.
Annuatim … xij bollas farine avenatice et ij bol. ordei, de pretio anuuatim prout le feir 1537 Glasgow Prot. IV. 103.
Failȝeand paement of the sayd meyll yeirlie … the saydis Jhon and Marget sall paye the pryce of the feyr 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 23.
James Dowglas … desyrit the balȝeis to decerne quhat the feir of meill and beir was in the ȝer [1551] … , quha decernit the feir in the said yeir, the boll of beir to xxxviii s. [etc.] 1584 Acts III. 304/1.
The lordis auditouris … to sett and appoint certane … commoun prices as neir as maybe to the feiris of the cuntreis 1637 Baillie I. 5.
The Commissar feirs wes ten pound for meill and bear 1640 Kirkcudbright Min. Bk. 58.
The Committie ordaines him to uptak the pryce according to the feirs of the yeir 1674 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 184.
To give fourtie penneis doune to the tennendis of Provand of ilk boll of beir of the Provand fier, in respect the same was promist … quhen the said fear was strukin 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxiv. § 4.
To pay him a boll, for the annualrent of every hundred merk, which according to the feir of the year did … extend to five pound the boll transf. 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. 55.
That thai sall present the mercat as God sendis the fer with the sade fische