Variant of TEAR sb.3 b, the finest fiber of flax, etc.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXVII. iii. II. 608. They will burne … more cleare than weekes or matches made of the very tire and best of flax.
1790. Churchw. Acc. W. Hoathly, Sussex, 27 Feb. Dame Steles wants some tyre—Allowed 1/2 dozen 7d.
1875. Sussex Gloss., Tire, flax for spinning. (Probably obsolete, but frequently found in old parochial accounts.)
