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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.

Ranso(u)n, v. Also: -sone, -sown; raunson, raun-, rawnsoun; rannson; ransson; Ranso(u)m. [ME rans(c)un (Cursor M.), raunceounen (Piers Plowman), -sonen (1387), obs. e.m.E. ramson (once, 1513 in Galway Arch.), OF rançonner, -sonner, f. ranson Ranso(u)n n.] To ransom, in the usual senses.

1. tr. To redeem (a person) from captivity; to obtain the release of a prisoner by payment of the sum or price demanded. 1456 Hay I 120/14.
Gif the duk of the bataill be tane, quhethir gif [any] suld save him, have merci of him, and ransoun him c1475 Wall. viii 452.
Our purpos is othir to wyn or de; Quha ȝeildis him sall neuir ransownd be 1531 Bell. Boece II 237.
He was … thris tane prisoner … and thris ransonit with infinite money a1538 Abell 84b.
King Wilȝem eftirwert wes ransonit with this connand at he suld pay a hundir thousand merkis

b. fig. In religious use: To redeem, deliver. a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 52.
Hou that Crist ves of hire borne, To ransone mankynd c1460 Regim. Princ. 69 (Maitl.).
Quhair no rewarde salbe bot hewin or hell Sall no man be ransownit for no geir c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 7/84.
Raunsound c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 275/10.
Rannsonnit 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4 (Bann.).
Ȝour saluiour … That bocht ȝow frome bailis, ransonit on the rude, Replegeing his prissonaris with his pretious blude 1567 G. Ball. 78.
God … His Sone did send to ransoun vs From sin

c. To deliver, free from captivity. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 28/88.
Thus ransonit thai the presoneir

d. To ransone the tyme, to procure a respite. — a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 77.
To ransone the tyme & to sauf thame fra his venyme

2. To put (a person) up for ransom; to free on payment of ransom. Also absol. 1375 Barb. ii 466.
Off othir, that war takyn than, Sum thai ransownyt sum thai slew 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
Qwha sa beis fondin culpable … sal be deliuerit to the partie that has sustenit the schath to sla or ravnson at thair likyng 1405 Douglas Corr. 64.
Yhour men com … til his castell of Brathwike, and … tuke and rawnsounde the capitain 1456 Hay I 247/19. 1533 Bell. Livy II 229/36. 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 157/2.
And als to ransoun the bodyis of the saidis Inglischemen as he sall think expedient 1567 Acts III 31/1.
Theuis … takis sindrie of thame detenis thame in captiuitie as prisonaris ransounis thame or lattis thame to borrowis for thair entrie againe a1578 Pitsc. I 228/12.
Ranssonat 1622-6 Bisset II 223/13.
[If the seamen] will ranson utheris the subiectis or alyance throw maisterschipabsol. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 244.
At his plesure he [Alexander] micht louse or ransoun