Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HARR, n. Also herr (Sh. 1900 Shetland News (3 Feb.)); har; haur.
1. The hinge of a door or gate (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.); the upper of the two pieces of a wooden door-hinge (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., ‡Ork. (herr) 1956). Also in Eng. dial.Ork. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. Addend. to Douglas Aeneis:
In Orkney they say, . . . The door is off o' har, i.e. off the hinges.Sh. 1888 Archæol. Review 349:
Oh! dan I'll jangle upo' my harrs.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 17. 15:
The grinnd, swinging in its wooden harr, had been repaired . . . time and again.
2. The corner of a gate or door to which hinges are fastened; the pivot on which they turn (Dmf. 1825 Jam., ha(u)r; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., harr). Now obs. in Eng. exc. dial.
Hence used fig. in phr.: ¶to ruse one's arse out o' har, “to praise a person till he be too much elated” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.).
[O.Sc. herre, a hinge, 1456, fig. in phr. out of har, in disorder, 1513, O.E. heorr(a), O.N. hjarri, id.]
