Obs. Also 4 fyre, 4–6 vyre, 5 Sc. wyr, wyir. [a. OF. vire (= Prov., Sp., Pg. vira), f. virer to turn.] A form of quarrel or bolt for a cross-bow. (Cf. VIRETON.)
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 595. I haf a bow, bot and a vyre. Ibid., 623. He tasit the vyre and leit it fle.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 164. As a fyre Which fleth out of a myhti bowe, Aweie he fledde for a throwe.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 4802. Thei fauȝt vn-armed in here atyres With longe Arwes and scharpe vires.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 2113, in Macro Plays (1904), 140. I schal slynge at þee many a vyre, & ben a-vengyd hastely here.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 1092. The red knycht, byrnyng in loues fyre, Goith to o knycht, als swift as ony vyre.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, V. xi. 16. This virgine sprent on swiftlie as a vyre.
