An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

A. S. blaedr, Su. G. blaedot, and Germ. blater, denote a pimple, or swelling with many reddish pimples that eat and spread. A. S. blaecth, leprosy.

BLAIN, s. A mark left by a wound, the discolouring of the skin after a sore, S.
Rutherford.

A. S. blegene, Belg. bleyne, pustula. But our term is more closely allied to Isl. blina, which is not only rendered pustula, but also, caesio ex verbere; G. Andr. Germ. blae-en, to swell.

BLAIN, s. A blank, a vacancy.
A blain in a field, a place where the grain has not sprung, Loth.

Probably a metaph. use of the preceding word.

BLAIR, s. That part of flax which is afterwards used in manufacture, properly after it has been steeped, and laid out for being dried; for it is subsequently called lint, S. This in E. is denominated harle.

Sw. blaer, hards of flax; but rather from Isl. blaer, aura, because it is thus exposed to the drought.

To BLAIR, v. n. To become dry by exposure to the drought, Ang.

BLAIRIN, s. The ground appropriated for drying flax, Ang.

This term also denotes the ground on which peats are laid out to be dried, ibid.