Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†LIORA, n. Also liori(n), liurie, lora (Jak., obs.). A vent-hole in the roof of a house by which the smoke of the fire escaped (Sh. 1774 G. Low Tour (1879) 180). Also used of a natural hole or opening in the ground.Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Shet. 115, 588:
No other light is received than through the aperture which allows egress to the smoke. To this opening is given the Scottish name of lumb, but in the obsolete language of Shetland, it was called the livra [sic] — a word resembling the ancient “liuren” or light-hole of the Norwegians. … On the summit of Liorafield is a small hole within which several barrels of lines are said to have been let down without finding a bottom. It is covered with a flag, which I had the temerity to remove, notwithstanding an ancient superstition that he who the first time he is upon the island opens the Liora or vent that leads to this subterraneous abode of Trows, dies immediately afterwards.
