Yar

From Middle English ȝaren, ȝurren, ȝeorren, from Old English ġeorran, ġirran, gyrran ("to sound, chatter, grunt, creak, grate"), from Proto-Germanic *gerraną ("to creak"), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer- ("to make a noise, rattle, gurgle, grumble"). Cognate with Scots yarr, yirr ("to snarl, growl, quarrel, cause trouble"), Middle High German girren ("to roar, cry, rattle, chatter").

Alternative forms

• yarr

Full definition of yar

Verb

1. (intransitive) To snarl; gnar.
2. (intransitive, chiefly Scotland) To growl, especially like a dog; quarrel; be captious or troublesome.

Origin uncertain.

Alternative forms

• yare

Adjective

1. (UK dialectal) Sour; brackish.

Derived terms

• yarrish

From Old English gearu ("ready"), from Proto-Germanic *garwaz.

Adjective

1. (nautical, of a vessel, especially sailboat) Quick and agile; easy to hand, reef and steer.1940 My, she was yar...It means, uh...easy to handle, quick to the helm, fast, right. Everything a boat should be, until she develops dry rot. - The Philadelphia Story written by
• 1958, Bulletin of the John Rylands Library...to make a ship best weighed, or yarest in her going.
2. 1993 Arr, here be a fine vessel: the yarest river-going boat there be. - Captain McAllister Simpsons ep.

Synonyms

• yare

Anagrams

• ayr, Ayr
• ray, Ray, ra'y, γ-ray