noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈvɛə/
US:/ˈvɛɚ/
US:/ˈvɛɹ̩/
Australian:/veː/
/ˈve̝ə/without the cheer–chair merger
/ˈviə/cheer–chair merger
Scotland:/ˈveəɹ/
/vɜː(ɹ)/Lancashire, fair–fur merger
rhymes with -ɛə(ɹ)
homophone: veer (cheer–chair merger)
1
noun
Meaning 1
A type of fur from a squirrel with a grey back and white belly, much used on garments in the Middle Ages.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of bell shapes in two colours, (for example in the image, blue and white).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English veir, veire, from Old French vair, veir, from the accusative singular masculine form of Latin varius (“variegated”). Not related to Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“squirrel”).
Across languages
Translations
22 source translations are retained for this English entry.