A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1599, 1657-1685
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Myr(e, Mire, v. Also: myir. [ME. (c 1400) and e.m.E. myre, mire, e.m.E. myer, myar, f. Myr(e,n.]
1. tr. To cast down into the mire or mud. b. fig. To involve in difficulties, to perplex, discomfit or confound, to ‘bog down’. 15.. Sym & Bruder 94.
Ȝe meit nocht bot ȝe myr him [: Stratyrum]b. 1513 Doug. ix. iii. 106.
Rutylianys wolx affrayit with myndis myryt c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 936.
He kneiling law with greit beneuolence … With the missiue that sa oft did him myir a1658 Durham Subtile Self 75.
This selfie corruption … hinders and obstructs and (as it were) myres them in their following of Christ a1658 Id. Clavis Cantici 142.
2. a. intr. To fall into or stick in a bog. b. passive. To be sunk or stuck in a bog. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. x.
The hare … Not tyring nor myring, Among the mossis deipe 1685 Lauder Observes 179.
They fall into a bog, wher all their horse and baggage is myred
3. tr. To bespatter with mud or filth, to soil, defile. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 472.
And myrit [B. myrd] thaym wyth thy mvk to the myd mast c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 140 b/7.
Tha blaisit bla bubly baggis … Wall myre ane studfull of staggis
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"Myr v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/myre_v>
