Etymology

The ME adj. without palatalization of /sk/ < PGmc *skīri-, cp. Goth skeirs 'clear', OIcel skírr 'clear, bright, pure', OE scīr 'bright, gleaming, shining, clear', OFris skīre 'bright, clear', OS skīr 'clear, unmixed', OHG skīri 'pure, clear, brilliant', is always derived from the ON, rather than the OE cognate, from which the more common ME forms with spellings indicating palatalization arise (see MED s.v. shīr(e)).

PGmc Ancestor

*skīri-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

skírr 'clear, bright, pure'
(ONP skírr (2) adj.)

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far skírur, Icel skír, Norw skir, OSw skir, Sw skir

OE Cognate

scīr 'bright, gleaming, shining, clear'

Phonological and morphological markers

absence of palatalization of */sk/

Summary category

A1*c

Attestation

First cited by MED from Orrm and thereafter from N alliterative poetry and names.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 1776; WA 467, 1924, *2119

The A MS of WA reads <slire> at 2119, which editors correct following the D MS reading <skyr>.

Bibliography

MED skīr(e (adj.) , OED skire (adj.) , HTOED , Bj. 128, de Vries skírr, Mag. skír, Orel *skīriz, AEW scīr (1)