An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/schier

by Friedrich Kluge

schier, adjective, ‘clear, pure, simple, sheer,’ from Middle High German (Middle German) schîr, ‘mere, pure, glittering’; compare Old Saxon skîr, skîri, Anglo-Saxon scîr, ‘pure, glittering,’ English shere, sheer, Old Icelandic skírr, Gothic skeirs, ‘clear, manifest’; a derivative of the root skî, ‘to shine, glitter.’ In Modern High German this adjective has been confused in sound with the following adverb, yet the Modern High German form may be also of Low German origin. See scheinen. schier, adverb, ‘almost,’ from Middle High German schiere, adverb, ‘quickly, soon,’ Old High German sciaro, older skêro, adverb, ‘quickly’; allied to Old High German sciari, scêri, adjective, ‘sagacious, zealous in tracing out’; compare Dutch schier, ‘almost’ (Old Icelandic skýrr, skœ́rr, ‘bright, clear’).