Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

URE, n.² Also ur (Marw.), oor-. [u:r]

1. A damp mist; fine rain, drizzle (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Hence oorie, of rain: fine, thin, drizzly (Ork. 1973).Cld. 1818 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 155:
The mune be this was shinan clearly abune a' the ure.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 333:
While glowering at the azure sky, And loomy ocean's ure.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
An oorie rug o' weet.

2. An atmospheric haze, esp. when radiated by sunbeams (Lth. 1973). Also in comb. dry ure, see 1824 quot., also attrib. Adj. urey, hazy; multi-coloured, rainbow-like.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 119, 365, 455:
Carpets o' queer ureie hues. . . . Then, like the south-wast, whan'tis urey, Wi' sunbeams sooking blue and pure, ay, The saut green wave. . . . Ure — that moisture which the sun exhales from the land and ocean; the atmosphere is most obvious on the sea, and when very dry weather, on the moors; when such is seen it is called the dry ure.Peb. 1875 J. Veitch Poems 49:
The dry ure glow of sky-enkindled flame.Peb. 1948 W. Grant Tweeddale 214:
When through the mist the sun strikes and makes it glorious, he [shepherd] speaks of the “dry-ure”.

†3. Sweat, perspiration (Ags. 1808 Jam.). Hence ury, adj., clammy, covered with perspiration (Ib.).

†4. Slow heat such as proceeds from embers, a suffocating heat (Peb. 1825 Jam.).