Obs. Forms: 4 air, 5 eyre, 7 ayre, 4–7 aire. [a. OFr. aire: see AERIE.] The earlier equivalent of AERIE.
c. 1325. Sir Tristr., I. xxix. Aȝain an hauke of nobl air. [Cf. OFr. faucon de gentil aire.]
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 46. Ffelle ffaukons and ffayre Haukes of nobulle eyre.
1616. Surflet & Markh., Countrey Farme, 79. Some [storks] do euerie years repayre to their wonted ayres, and doe ayre and neast themselves willingly also in the tops of high Towers.
1706. Phillips, Aire or Airy (among Falconers) a nest of Hawks, or other Birds of Prey; especially the Nest, which Falcons make choice of to hatch their Young in.
