A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Keir, adj. Also: keyre, kear. [Sc. and Ir. Gael. ciar, -éire, dusky, dark grey, dark brown, dun, roan, etc. (Dwelly), dark brown, chestnut, etc. (Dinneen).] Of horses: Dun, dark brown or grey. b. With blak-keir, keirblak, broun-kear (-hewit), cf. the Gael. combinations of ciar with -dubh (black), -donn (brown) (in ciar-dhubh, -dhonn, also EIr. (Kuno Meyer) dond-chiar) = dark or very dark brown or grey.1525 Wigtown B. Ct. 204 a.
Ane keyre nagc 1564 Glasgow Test. II. 57 b.
Awand … the rest of ane keir meir 1579 Edinb. Test. VII. 107.
Ane keir meir of vj ȝeir auld price x l. 1586 Ib. XVI. 155 b.
Ane keir hors of sevin ȝeir auld 1591 Ib. XXII. 292 b.
Ane keir cuttit naig Ib. XXIII. 214 b.
Ane auld broun meir, … ane keir meir and ane reid meir 1697 Rental of Brabster, Caithness, in Old Lore Misc. (Viking C.) IX. i. 48.
A kear horse that came from Donald Mckbeath. … Item, a broun mear and a kear stead foll at hir foottb. (1) 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 76.
Ane gray staig … , ane blak keir staig 1580 Ib. IX. 42.
Ane keir blak staig of tua ȝeir auld 1674 Argyll Justic. Rec. I. 42.
Ane keir black horse(2) 1611 Dunblane Test. III. 136.
Twa meiris bayth brown kear hewit
