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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHIRRAMUIR, n. Also sherramoor, shirriemuir, shirry-; -meer, -mere (ne.Sc.); and reduced form shirra (Fif. 1862 St Andrews Gazette (10 Oct.)). For the forms see Sheriff. [ʃɪrə′mør, -′mer, -′mjuər; ne.Sc. -′mir]

1. With def. art.: the Jacobite rising of 1715 which ended in the battle of Sheriffmuir near Stirling. Cf. Mar's Year.Ayr. 1786 Burns Halloween xv.:
A hairst afore the Sherra-moor.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xiii.:
As far back as the Shirramuir or Culloden.

2. A noisy contention, a row, rumpus (Sc. 1825 Jam.; wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan App. 516; Bnff., Abd. 1970); a din, clamour, a severe rebuke, a dressing-down (ne. Sc. 1970); a state of tumult or confusion.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 69:
A Shirra-meer she gae him Right derf that night.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 419:
To hear him in this language telling of one of his Shirramuirs, how laughable it is.Dmf. 1834 Carlyle Letters (Norton 1888) II. 247:
After that, another small sherra'-muir.Slk. 1892 W. M. Adamson Betty Blether 81:
There's been a richt Shirriemuir at Garvie Terrace this mornin'.Fif. 1896 L. Keith Indian Uncle ii.:
What with the scrubbing and the polishing and the better polishing, the house is a perfect Shirra Muir.Abd. 1934 D. Scott Stories 26:
We heard a great shirrymeer ootside.