Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLEARIE, BLEERIE, BLEARY, Bleirie, adj.
1. Watery-eyed. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1899–1901 in R. Ford Vagabond Songs and Ballads (1904) 302:
Duncan McCleary an' Janet McCleary, Dunean was blin', and Janet was blearie.Edb. 1915 J. Fergus The Sodger, etc. (1916) 18:
Though the wife gi'ed him a nicht-kep, he got a' stapp'd-up an' bleary.Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems 12:
An' now she sits a' day, sae dowf an' blearie, An' sings luve sangs about her Highland Harry.Gall. c.1870 J. Heughan in Bards of Gall. (ed. Harper 1889) 238:
The saut tears thro' his winkers dreep, His een's like meltin' snaw. He's blearie and weary.
Combs.: (1) bleary-e'et, “watery-eyed” (Mry.2 1936; Abd.4 1929); (2) bleary-een (see quot.).(2) Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
Bleary-een. Eyes affected by a thick fluid; inflamed eyes.
2. Thin, as applied to milk or other liquid. See Blearie, n., and Bleared, ppl.adj.Fif. 1808 Jam.:
A term applied to weak liquor, which has little or no strength; as bleirie ale.Ayr. 1879 R. Adamson Lays of Leisure Hours 90:
My jinglin' rhyme, Which, at the best, is but a dabble O' bleerie milk an' water twaddle.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn:
Bleerie-tea, very weak tea.
3. Gloomy.Lnk. 1904 I. F. Darling Songs from Silence 39; Kcb.9 1934:
Winter nichts are bleerie, Jean, Days are dark'nin' sune.
