Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†GAAR, n. Also guard. A piece of open ground. Only in connection with the area in the west of Dundee adjoining the Tay now called Magdalen Green.Ags. 1822 Caled. Mag. I. 403, 413:
The meetin' at the Maidlin gaar. . . . The far end of the Magdalen Guard.
[Orig. in O.Sc. forms geir, 1582, gair, 1668, corrupted in 18th c. to guard and later yard. Orig. somewhat uncertain but poss. a variant of Gair, n.1 (see etym. note s.v.).]
