Forms: 6 cayro, 7 cairo, cair, 8 cayr, cayar; 7–9 coire, 8 coyr(e, 9 koir, coier, 8– coir. [ad. Malayālam kāyar cord, f. kāyaṛu to be twisted (Yule). In earlier forms, a. Pg. cairo (in Correa 1510), coyro (Barbosa 1516).]
The prepared fiber of the husk of the coco-nut, used for making ropes, cordage, matting, etc. Originally, the thread or cordage made of this fiber.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., 14 b. The Moores which trade to Sofala in great ships, that haue no decks nor nailes, but are sowed with Cayro.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 251. A certaine shippe made of boordes, and sowed together with cayro, which is threede made of the huske of Cocoes.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, II. 1778, side-note. The uttermost is hairie, and of it they make Cairo that is all their Cables and Ropes.
1697. [see b] Coire.
1704. Collect. Voy. (Churchill), III. 573/2. Cayr (of which they make Cables and Ropes).
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxiv. 296. Of the Rind of the Nut they make Cayar, which are the Fibres of the Cask that environs the Nut spun fit to make Cordage and Cables for Shipping.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 67. The coco nut tree produces coir.
1844. Hull Dock Act, 121. Coir, rough, press packed, per ton, 6d.
1860. Tennent, Ceylon, II. ii. 127, note. The best coir is made from the unripe nuts.
b. attrib., as coir-cable, fibre, -rope, yarn.
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 430. Here you will find the Arack Drink, the Coire Cabels, the Bread Fruit.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. x. 295. These are called Coire Cables: they will last very well.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 121 (Yule). They [the Surat people] have … Cair-yarn made of the Cocoe for cordage.
1759. Lond. Mag., XXVIII. 604. Their coyr-ropes made of the fibres of cocoa nut husks.
1816. ‘Quiz,’ Grand Master, VII. 190. Goulaub, sans ceremony, sat Upon a piece of koir mat.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., x. (ed. 2), 360. Coir rope is equal in strength to hempen rope of the same size, and is but two-thirds the weight.
