A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Lire,) Lyre, n.3 Also: lyer. [ON. líri masc., Norw. lira fem. Also in the mod. dial. of Shetland, Orkney and Caithness.] In Orkney and Shetland: The bird, the Manx shearwater. —1654 Blaeu's Atlas Scotl., Orkney.
The Stour where buildet that excellent foul called the lyer 1684 Sibbald Scot. Illustr. iii. 22.]
[Avis Orcadensis lyra dicta a1688 Wallace Descr. Orkney 19.
There are likewise many toists and lyres, both sea fowls, very fat and delicious to eat 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 21.
They have plenty both of land and sea fowls: as eagles … claik-goose, dunster-goose, solen-goose … lyres, scarffs, [etc.] Ib. 22.
The lyre is a rare and delicious sea fowl, … it is somewhat less then a duck Ib. 94.
