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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ra, Ray, n.¹ Also: raa, rha, rai-, rae; rea; re, rey. [North. ME and e.m.E. ra (Cursor M.), raa (Chaucer: Reeve's Tale), rey (1612), OE ráha, ráa, rá (fem. rǽge), whence also early ME roa (a1200), ME and e.m.E. ro (Manning), roo, roe Ro n.² Cf. ON rá.] The roe deer, the species; a member of this species.For numerous further instances see Da n.¹, with which Ra is frequently coupled, also Dere n.¹coll. and uninfl. pl., sing., and pl.(1) 1587 Carmichael Etym. 34.
Antennae, the noks of the rea(2) a1400 Leg. S. xx 48.
coll. and uninfl. pl. Ilke day [come] … Hart & hynd, da & ra a1550 Tayis Bank 37.
Vndir the rise the ra did ryn 1568 Reg. Privy S. VI 51/1.
And to plenneis the samin [forest] with deir, ra, meiris and stallownis(b) 1424 Acts II 7/2.
Raa 1456 Hay II 23/14. 1600 Reg. Great S. 381/2.(c) a1578 Pitsc. I 338/20.
Heartis and hyndis witht wther small beistis as re and rebuke(d) a1578 Pitsc. II 173 n. 7.
Rae 1596 Dalr. I 39/4.
Rosse … in hart and hine, dae and rae … flowis in abundance 1614 Keeping of Deer Forests in Argyll Mun. (Misc. 17th c.) 2 July.
That the forestaires … suld be keipit … for incres of deir and rae for the pleasir of the said noble lord c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 522.(e) 1581 Digest Justiciary Proc. K 14.
Reasing. (a) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 169.
Alexander sal … gyve to ws in name of propyne a ra or a buk a1500 Henr. Fab. 2519.
Went neuer hound mair haistelie … Quhen he wes rynnand … at the ra 1476 Reg. Cupar A. I 225.
Payand to ws ȝerly aucht markis of vsual mone at twa vsual termys … with a ra or a rabuk c1560 Stirlings of Keir 415.
Thai had been at ane curs of hunting … for ane ra a1568 Scott ii 155.
Sym lap on horsbak lyk a ra(b) 1504–5 Treas. Acc. III 132.
To ane man that brocht ane raa 1535 Stewart 22120.
The word … ran als swift as ony hart or raa(c) 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI I 30 April.
Fra Traquhair ane ray(d) a1500 Henr. Fab. 900 (Bann.).
Re(e) 1598 Household Bks. Jas. VI I 25 May.
Of rey ane(f) 1662 Crim. Trials III 603.
He [the Devil] vold be somtymes with ws lyk a dear, or a raepl. 1488 Treas. Acc. I 108.
Foure rays 1507 Ib. IV 85.
Raas 1513 Doug. iv iv 49.
The rays, rynnyng swyft as fyre, Drevyn from the hyghtis, brekkis out at the swyre Ib. xii Prol. 182 (see Kid n. 4). 1529 Household Bks. Jas. V 146.
Rais 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 84.
The he fox … dandring Like royd and wilȝart rais 1598 Household Bks. Jas. VI 25 May.
Twa rayis c1605 Elphinstone Chart. 146.
To the effect it [the forest] may of new be parkeit, hayneid, and plenisched with deire and raes 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 318.
Vennisoun. Off haill deir, iii, … off reais xvii

b. attrib. with kid and collop, and attrib. (? and possess.) with skin.(1) 1501 Treas. Acc. II 110.
That brocht tua ra kiddis quik to the king 1633 Johnston Diary I 61.
Hir eien, schoe said, was lyk rae collops for greating(2) 1424 Acts II 6/1.
Hert and hynde skynnis xij d. … of ilke x dais and rais skynnis iiij d. 1431 Exch. R. IV 534.
[Quinquaginta pellium vulpium, et viginti] raes 1597 Bk. Rates 10b.
Rhais skinis — 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 140.
For foure raa skinnis to covir the kingis jak 1594 Edinb. Test. XXVII 298b.
Ra and rabuik skynnis 1614 Mar & Kellie MSS 71.
Rea skynnis 1627–8 in Halyb. Preface ci.
Rae skins 1661 Acts VII 253/2.
Rae skines

c. As a placename element. — 1456 Exch. R. VI 166.
Le Raahill 1510–11 Rentale Dunkeld. (S.H.S.) 174.
Lie Raa loch