Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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.

Rangail(l, -ale, n. Also: -aile, -all, -elle; -ald; and Ringald. [ME rengaile the ranks of an army (once, Manning), OF ringaille the lowest ranks or riff-raff of an army (1155), menials. Also in the later dial. as rangle, etc. = a crowd. See also Rangat n.]

1. Those accompanying an army to perform menial duties for it; camp-followers. 1375 Barb. viii 198 (E).
His mengne … sex hunder fechtand men, But rangale [C. rangald] Ib. xi 111 (C).
Small rangale, That ȝemyt harnas and vittale Ib. xiii 341 (E).
Laddis, swanys, and rangaill [C. rangall] c1420 Wynt. viii 5359.
Ane hundreth armyd jolyly Off knychtis and sqwyeris, but rangale

b. Applied pejoratively to a badly-trained or ill-disciplined body of soldiers. 1375 Barb. xii 474 (E).
Sall na man say That I sall … withdraw me for sic rangaile [C. rangale] 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 79.
The officher answered … that the night befor they [the Marquis of Huntley's men] had loged in the place of Drumme which I knew was false for the laird of Drumme was not a man to loge such rangelle [pr. raugelle] in his house

c. The ‘followers’ in a herd of deer; the herd (as opposed to the leaders). 1513 Doug. i iv 57.
First the ledaris thre … Smertly he slew, syne all the rangald [Ruddim. ringald; L. vulgus] persewis

2. Rabble; riff-raff; ‘hangers-on’. 1667 Highland P. II 10.
They called for all the rangall and poor ones that were in the toun Ib. 38.
He … keeped such rangall, sorning on the comones that [etc.]

3. Disorder, tumult, commotion. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 6.
Thay luifit not na rangald nor repair 1513 Doug. vi xii 73.
Gret rowt with rangald in ledis he 1561–2 Peebles B. Rec. I 288.
All parochinaris … to compere and mak thair obedience at prayer tyme … without ony rangald in tymes cuming