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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tyr(e, v.¹ Also: tire, tyir(e. [Late ME and e.m.E. tere (a1400-50), tyere (Malory), tyre, tire (both Shakespeare), OE tíorian, téorian.] intr.

1. To fail, to cease. Also const. infin. obj. c1420 Wynt. ix 2470.
Bot, as it fell, before that day This Percy tyrit in the way c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 693.
Ilk ane in hand ane reill quhilk did not tyir, To reill thair hankis … of reid gold wyir

2. tr. To become exhausted, lose one's strength from physical exertion, etc.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2536.
It is not the lamb, bot thé, that I desyre; I sall cum neir, for now I se thé tyre c1475 Wall. ix 1771.
The Scottis hors mony began to tyr 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 142.
Robert Thomsone … sais that hors tyreit betueix this and Kelso vith ane boll of quhet and vas twa dais in cuming hayme 1535 Stewart 34905.
My pen wald tyre … Gif I suld heir his worthines discryfe 15.. Sym & Bruder 33.
And ay the eldest bure the baggis Quhair that the ȝungest tyrit a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvi 47.
Bot nycht & day mon he nocht tyre That sailis my bony ballinger(b) ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 302.
Jesus … tirit, and sat at the well and askit a drink of watter 1501 Treas. Acc. II 113.
To Thom Bosuell quhen his hors tirit cumand fra Quhithirn 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1798.
That nane of thame wald tire Nor leif the feildproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 102.
An hyred horse tyred never

b. tr. To cause (a person, etc.) to become exhausted or weakened. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 520.
To tume thy tone it has tyrit carlingis ten c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 133/7.
For rekkyning of my rentis and roumes Ȝe neid not for to tyre ȝour thowmes 1513 Doug. xi vii 27.
Na bargane may thame irk nor tyre 1533 Boece 97.
Gif ȝe think that be strate erdis, mos, slike [etc.] … and als be skant of victualis ȝe may cummyr and tyre the Romane armye a1578 Pitsc. I 115/3.
He was gretlie effaired thinkand that he had wastit him sellff and his muny and had tyred all his subiectis in the persuit … of the Erle of Douglas

3. intr. To weary (of, for, to do something), to lose interest, patience, attention, to become bored.(a) a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 42.
O wicket tung … Of fals taillis to tell that will not tyre a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 288 (Harl.).
O ȝouth, in to thi ȝeris grene … Tyre nocht, that tryumphe eternall till vptene c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 121/94.
Experience dois me so inspyr Off this fals failȝeand warld I tyre 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 155.
For byssynes … Ourvoluyt I this volume lay a space And thocht I wery was me list nocht tyre a1538 Abell 106b.
His fathir tirit for playntis of him [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4138.
Gif that I lude a knicht or ȝit a squyre, Within schort time of my lufe thay wald tyre a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 302/49.
He neuer tyris for to brek byris 1570 Sat. P. xiii 180.
We trowit … thay … suld haif tyrit of all thair tyrannie c1590 J. Stewart 92/460.
The lord of luife, Quho birns me all in fyre, Maks vith his vings this vind, And will not tyre To [etc.] a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 338.
Huntlie also, to the end the ennemie sould have na thing to feid upon … had spulyeit all necessers, to mak the lieutenent to tyre of his remayning c1610 Melville Mem. 385.
Wherof they will schone tyre … when ther purses begins to grow tume 1611 J. Melvill in McCrie Melville 445.
In cums Robein Reidbreist mirrelie And souppis and lodgis … But one the morne I him perceaved to tyre For Phebus schyning sueitlie him allurd I gaue him leif and furth guid Robein furd 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 165.
They begin to tyre of preaching and catechising(b) 1540–1 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 50.
Gyf it sal happin the said Rechart … to tyir or irk of the said William and thinks he ma do better 1541 Sc. Hist. Rev. VI 158.
I … sall neuir tyire to do ȝoure grace good seruice

b. tr. To cause (a person) to weary, lose interest, become bored. c1420 Wynt. iii 809 (W).
It is oure tyrand [R. langsum] for to tell How mony changeingis that tyme befell a1568 Scott i 89.
Thai tyrit God … And daisit Him with daylie darigeis 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 770.
Quotidianum tyris men