English

Noun

keir ‎(plural keirs)

1. Alternative form of kier
   • 1902, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Sessional Papers, Volume 34, Part 2, page 7,

     The keirs, becks, washing machines, etc., are placed sufficiently low to allow of being fed from the water supply by gravitation, and the outlets placed just sufficiently high to reach the water line of the river a little above its normal flow.

   • 1919, Society of Dyers and Colourists, Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, Volume 35, page 35,

     Also fine clothes require longer treatment in the keir in order to secure good penetration by the chemie.

   • 1975, Owen Ashmore, The Industrial Archaeology of Stockport, page 31,

     The cloth was singed to remove superfluous fluff by being passed over heated copper plates and then boiled in bleaching keirs with lime or caustic soda.