Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Lair, n.³ (Also: larache.) [Appar. Gael. làr, Ir. lár ground, floor, and in Ir. also in the sense ‘floor of a peat-bank’. Appar. unconnected with Lair n.¹ 6.] a. The bottom or floor of a peatbank. b. A trench from which turves have been dug. — 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 260.
The counsell ordainis the fauld bigit vpoun the linkis … to be dimolishit … and the faill to be cuttit and laid in the lair whair thay wer castin 1677 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 130.
That … the haill under mos and lair be maid levell under bank ilk yeir immediatlie the tyme of the casting as also that ilk persone who casts in any pairt of the said moss mack the haill under lair qch is now lyeing in heaps levell … before the nixt casting to the effect that the water may have passage away furth of the pots 1705 Urie Baron Ct. 113.]
[That noe tennent lead ther leet peets … and that ilke tennant keepe ther owen larache and wnder moss dry and levell