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.
HELYER, n. Also hel(l)ier, heljer; heller (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); halier (Sc. 1821 Scott Pirate xix.); hejller (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). A cave on the seashore into which the tide flows (Sh. 1825 Jam., Sh. 1957). Found in Ork. in names of caves in form hellyie. Comb. †helier-halse, the narrow entrance of a helyer (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). See Hause, n. [′hɛljər]Ork. 1821 Scott Pirate xix.:
By air and by wick, and by helyer and gio, And by every wild shore which the northern winds know.Ork. 1832 D. Vedder Sketches 13:
The irresistible Atlantic rushing with inconceivable velocity into countless subterranean gios or helyers, with a noise louder than thunder.Sh. 1876 J. M. Saxby Dalla-Mist 172:
When seals are up basking in their helyers.Sh. 1937 J. Nicolson Yarns 78:
The billows no longer lashed the rugged shores in their fury, and their thunder was stilled in the caves and “helliers.”
