leere

Noun

leere

1. (obsolete) A tape or braid; an ornament.
2. (obsolete) A layer.
   • And then if it be before Mid-Cancer,& the hony-weather hold; your best way is to double the stall, by turning the skirt of the Hiue vpward, and setting a leere prepared Hiue fast vpon it: into which they will ascend, and worke and tbreed there as well as in the old,1623, Charles Butler, The Feminine Monarchie, Or the Historie of Bees
   • First, make an hole in the earth with very good tempered clay that will hold water, and let it be narrow in the bottome, and wider and wider above to the toppe to the breadth of 2 or 3 or 4 yards; then fill the Pit with water & lay over it barres of iron of sufficient strength and thicknesse to...1639, Gabriel Plattes, A Discovery of Subterraneall Treasure, page 46
3. (obsolete) A look or glance.
   • I gave a leere With that same eye that made her turne her whites up.1658, Richard Brome, The New Academy, Or, the New Exchange, page 173
   • Pursuing my Voyage through the City, and casting a Leere into the Shops of the Rich Drapers, Mercers, and Lacemen, I saw them haunted by many People in Want, especially young Heirs newly at Age, and Spendthrifts, that came to borrow Money of them.1700, Tom Brown, Amusements Serious and Comical, page 112
4. (obsolete) A joke or jest; a bit of comedy.
   • A leere put upon the Father by his Sonne.1633, A Banquet of Jests, page 145
   • Cell. You Wit, Sir, will be better imploy'd anotther way; Come Cousin, let's go listen to the Gentleman, no doubt, we shall find a great reformation.
     Hyl. Why, look ye Gentlemen, this is alwayes my damn'd luck, Pox on't, they won't allow me so much as a Leere; but hush —here comes the Monfieur.1678, Thomas D'Urfey, Trick for Trick: Or, The Debauch'd Hypocrite, page 5