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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Blere, Bleir, v.¹ Also: bler, blier, blear. [ME. blere, earlier blerien, of obscure origin.]

1. tr. To blere (one's) e, to hoodwink, beguile, deceive one. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1360.
Hyr lordys ey wytht that scho bleryde a1500 Henr. Fab. 2032.
I trow … that ȝe sall se, Gif I can traist to bleir ȝone carllis ee c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 277.
Weil couth I … with a bek gang about, & bler his ald E Id. vi. 79.
And ȝit he bleris my lordis E 1535 Stewart 14742.
Thair with all [he] blerit the Britis ee Ib. 58903.
All this wes done … Be fenȝeit law to bleir the kingis ee 1540 Lynd. Sat. 173.
Ay thair eine scho bleirit Ib. 4104.
Howbeit the commons eyne ȝe bleir a1568 Scott i. 86.
Pilgrimes and palmaris past with thame … , blait bodeis ein to bleir 1567 G. Ball. 205.
Thay sillie freiris, mony ȝeiris, With babling blerit our E 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 77.
Johne Gukstoune eye to bleir, quhen he thinkis tyme 1591-2 Rob Stene 8.
Bot in effect hir ee was bleirit, For scho was nadir luvit nor feirit 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 159.
Thay … blearis the peoples eine with ane imputatiue iustice

2. intr. To look with blear eyes. Also tr. To wear out (the eyes) with peering. c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 667.
Quhat may ȝone fell freik be, With the quhite berd and scarlat ene dois bleir? 1581 Cath. Tr. 142/25.
Ye vil bleir out al your eis, or euer ye can be abil to schau onie sik thing