kier
(kɪə(r))
Forms: 6 keare, keyre, 7 keere, 9 keir, kier.
[Known only from second half of 16th c.: cf. ON. ker vessel, tub (Norw. kjer, Sw., Da. kar) = OHG. char, Goth. kas.]
† a. A brewing-vat (also boiling-kier, brewing-kier, gyle-kier, gyling-kier). Obs. b. A large vat in which cloth is boiled for bleaching or other purposes (bleaching-kier).
| 1573 Lanc. & Chesh. Wills (Chetham, 1884) 64 One brewinge keare, and a troghe for y⊇ same ijs. A yailinge keare xijd. 1579 Ibid. (Chetham, 1861) 101 Six great vessels of tymber called keares w{supt}{suph} other ffurnyture for the brewehouse and backehouse. 1582 Lanc. Wills (1857) I. 132 Dyverse stone trowes keyres and arkes. 1635 Brereton Trav. (Chetham) 104, I took notice of that common brew-house..and observed there..boiling keeres. [c 1746, 1775: see gyleker.] 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 138 The wooden kieve, or kier, containing the cloth. 1879 Spons' Encycl. Indust. Arts I. 515 For yarn and thread, it is very usual to have the false bottom of the bleaching kier, or pot, movable. 1883 Manch. Exam. 30 Oct. 7/2 This kier..was used for boiling..cotton flock and other substances used in paper-making. |
Hence ˈkierful.
| 1879 Spons' Encycl. Indust. Arts I. 515 A whole kierful of yarn or thread is chemicked at once. 1884 Times 15 Apr. 8 A large kierful of cloth of about 30 cwt. |