A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Chirry, n. Also: chir(r)ie, chyrrie; pl. chirreis. [e.m.E. chirrie, ME. chiri(e, chiry, OE. ciris. See also Chery n.] A cherry.c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxi. 22. Ib. xxxix. 42.
Lat ws be mirry, And sett nocht by this warld a chirry Ib. lxxv. 53.
My chirrie and my maikles munȝoun a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 309.
The chirries hang abune my heid Ib. 463 (L).
Thow knawis it is the chyrrie 1620 Grant Chart. 330.
Payit for twa hundrethe chirreis to the laird 1621 Maxwell Mem. I. 333.
To the gairnaris man for sum chirreis he gaif ȝour mastership in Danmark hous gairdein 1632 Ib. II. 218.
Peaches, … necturines, chiries 1704 Foulis Acc. Bk. 354.
Goose berrie, risers and chirry
b. Attrib. with colour, imp, lip, stane, trie.?1438 Alex. i. 106.
He prysis him nocht worth a chirrie-stane a1568 Bann. MS. 233 b/23*.
Hir chirry lippis to me scho laid a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 615 (L).
Fra we determenit … to clyme the chyrrie trie 1684 New Mills Manuf. 64.
Collers very currant … as grein, masarein blew, hair collour, and chirrie collour 1689 Foulis Acc. Bk. 104.
For 8 plum, 3 chirrie and 12 pear imps
