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.
IRE, n.2 Also oir(e), oyre and, in place-names, Air(e)-, Ayre-. Gravel, a bed of gravel, e.g. on a beach, or laid down naturally or artificially in front of a house (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 153), common in place-names, as Ireland, Ireso, Irefurs, Ayre; transf., appar. from a misapprehension of the latter meaning, muddy puddles collected at the edge of the brig-stanes of a house (Ork. 1929 Marw.). [′əɪ ər, in place-names also ′eər]Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 15, 118:
The quagmire was avoided by stepping stones placed from the brig-stanes across the oyres . . . The rangers . . . poured out the ale on the “oirs,” and trampled the malt in the midden.Ork. 1930 Orcadian (13 Feb.):
You have the word Oires from Firth, meaning muddy puddles outside the brig-stanes o' the hoose. In this locality oire or ire was a term for the hard gravelly boulder clay under the muddy upper stratum, “As hard as da ire” was a phrase often used.
