eyre

¹

[ air ]

noun

, Old English Law.

1. a circuit made by an itinerant judge justice in eyre in medieval England.
2. a county court held by a justice in eyre.

Eyre

²

[ air ]

noun

1. Lake, a shallow salt lake in S South Australia. 3,430 sq. mi. (8,885 sq. km).

Eyre

¹

/ ɛə /

noun

1. EyreEdward John18151901MBritishTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: explorerPOLITICS: colonial administrator Edward John. 1815–1901, British explorer and colonial administrator. He was governor of Jamaica (1864–66) until his authorization of 400 executions to suppress an uprising led to his recall
2. EyreSir Richard1943MBritishTHEATRE: theatre director Sir Richard. born 1943, British theatre director: director of the Royal National Theatre (1988–97)

eyre

²

/ ɛə /

noun

1. any of the circuit courts held in each shire from 1176 until the late 13th century
2. justices in eyre
   the justices travelling on circuit and presiding over such courts

Eyre

³

/ ɛə /

noun

1. Lake Eyre
   a shallow salt lake or salt flat in NE central South Australia, about 11 m (35 ft) below sea level, divided into two areas (North and South); it usually contains little or no water. Maximum area: 9600 sq km (3700 sq miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of eyre¹

1250–1300; Middle English eyre < Anglo-French; Old French erre, derivative of errer to journey; err

Word History and Origins

Origin of eyre¹

C13: from Old French erre journey, from errer to travel, from Latin errāre to wander

Origin of eyre²

C19: named after Edward John Eyre (1815–1901), British explorer and colonial administrator

Example Sentences

Another resident, Emma Eyre, said the smell was "absolutely vile".

From BBC

The Eyre Peninsula is known for its wild, untamed beaches and phenomenal surf breaks, and despite being challenging to access and navigate, it is an alluring spot for surfers.

From Science Daily

In May, a surfer was killed off the Eyre Peninsula, and in February, a girl was mauled by a shark in a river in Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

From BBC

In 1820, the Brontes moved to the parsonage in Howarth, where the sisters wrote masterpieces including Emily's Wuthering Heights and Charlotte's Jane Eyre.

From BBC

Most wonderful experience: Just after rereading “Jane Eyre,” I was in England and visited the extraordinary Brontë parsonage, stood in the room where the Brontë sisters had written and read to each other and created worlds, and walked, as they had, up the path from their door into the moors.

From New York Times