Obs. [? a. F. tire, from tirer to draw, pull: see TIRE v.2] In ribbon-weaving: A cord that pulls the high-lisses (LISSE sb.2) up.
1759. Gentl. Mag., 517. Description of a new invented machine for drawing the tire in a ribbon loom. Ibid. The tumblers that draw the tire moving with their upper ends in the rake. Ibid. A ribbon that requires tire may be work’d as a plain course, there being no loss of time required in the tire’s draught.
1766. Croker, etc., Dict. Arts, s.v. Ribband, 4. The tires, or the riding cords, which run on the pullies, and pull up the high-lisses…. 25. The tumblers, or pullies, to which the tires are tied, to clear the course of cords through the high lisses…. 27. The tire-board.
