A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Schir(e, adv. Also: schyr(e. [ME sir (c1250), shir (a1300), schyre (14th c.), OE scíre; f. S(c)hir(eadj.]
1. Brightly; clearly.Freq. in collocation with Birn v. or Brin v.(1) 1375 Barb. xix 666.
The litill fyr That in the luge wes brynnand schyr Ib. iv 619. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 892 (C).
The cite … brent full schyr c1420 Wynt. iii 776.
He … gert be maid on a bale fyre Off gret schyddys byrnand schyre Ib. v 2504. 1513 Doug. ii v 14.
And quhen … the bail of fyre Rays … vp byrnand schyre Ib. viii xii 48.
The kyndillyt lynt and hardis byrnand schire a1585 Polwart Flyt. 553 (T).
With fleing fyreflauchis burning bricht and schyre(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 3705.
Of emeraudes schynand schyre a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 610.
The sone … wes schynyng so schir 1513 Doug. iv x 88.
The feirful brandis and blesys … lemand schyre Ib. ix iv 57.
Thar fyris now begynnys schyne full schire
2. Totally, completely; straight. Doun schyre, straight down. Cf. Schare adv.In OED the earliest quots. for sense ‘straight up or down’ are f. Scott and Carlyle: next use is in 1872.With quot. Kennedy, cf. late ME skyre, skir (c1400) adj. notable for harmful qualities.a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 496.
A schit but wit, schyre [Ch. & M. schir, B. schrewit] and injurius c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 22.
Thair cleir hair … sched Attour thair schulderis doun schyre, schyning full bricht
