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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.

Rebel(l, Rabel(l, adj. and n. Also: rebel(l)e, reabelle, rabill, ribell, -ball; re-, rybald. [ME (1297) and e.m.E. rebel(l)(e, F. rebelle adj. (12th c.) and n., L. rebellis adj. rebellious, (f. bellum war).]There is some ambiguity between senses A and B.

A. adj.Chiefly predic., as in the phr. to be rebell.

a. Refusing obedience or allegiance to an overlord or commander, or to an established government; offering armed or other resistance to authority.Also transf.(1) 1375 Barb. ix 649 (E).
Thaim that rebell war [C. rebelland war] Ib. x 129.
Johne of Lorn his sone ȝeit wes Rebell, as he wes wont to be a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 148.
Bot this Vincent, as contumace, & to be rebele [L. rebellem] na dout has, Til gyf ensampil vthyre til c1420 Wynt. v 2516.
All Frans that tyme wes cruell, Stowt agayne Rome, and rebell [C. rabell] c1475 Wall. viii 141.
Thai gert him trow that Wallace was rabell And thocht to tak the kynryk to hym sel(2) c1420 Wynt. v 2054 (C).
Frawns agane Rome rase rabel [R. wese rebelle]transf. 1535 Stewart 48319.
Robert Bruce, O rabill mynd, allace! Quhair wes thi wit or wisdome in that cace?

b. That has been declared outside the protection of the law; outlawed. Also fig. 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 410/2.
The tyme of his being rebell at our horne 1535 Stewart 45142. 1592 Acts III 574/2.
That the cedent remanis rebell 1622-6 Bisset I 175/21.
Because he is rebell and at the kingis horne a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 187.
That the samen wes taine to the rebell's behooffe and that he wes rebell the tyme of [etc.]fig. a1568 Bann. MS 86b/72.
That sculis war cryit doun And vertew rebell exilit the cuntre

c. Const. agane or to (till), in the above senses. c1420 Wynt. v 4080.
Thame to sla that wes rebell [C. rabel] Till him ?14.. Ship Laws c. 15 (A).
& gif ony of thaim be rebel a gain hym he aw to command him thrise out of the schip 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 179.
The said James is rebell to our souerane lord as said is 1535 Stewart 43689.
Nane … That rebell war or exul to the king 1562 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV 49.
Be the quhilkis doings he become and schew him selff rebell to the authoritie of the provestrie of this burgh a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 41.

d. attrib. — c1475 Wall. vii 181.
Rebell renkis c1515 Adam Williamson in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxi.
The rebell lordis off Scotland

e. Refusing obedience to God. — a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1333 (Asl.).
Synnaris quhilkis oft has bene to God rebell

B. noun.

1. One who disregards or flouts the authority of his rightful overlord or his officers, as by breaking the law, refusing to appear when summoned, etc.; one formally denounced for his crimes or contumacy, and declared to be outside the law by being put to the horn (see Horn n.¹ 2 c); one outwith the bonds of allegiance; an outlaw.Common in the phr. to be denuncit (declairit, callit) rebell, also to declair or denunce (someone) rebell. 1321 Liber Melros 353.
[Contradictores et rebelles siqui fuerint per censuram ecclesiasticam compescendo 1345 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 78. 1390 Reg. Episc. Morav. 203.](1) 14.. Acts I 340/2.
The rebelles [L. rebelles] and perturbers within the burgh 1438 Ib. II 32/2.
Rebellys or vnrewlful men 1515–16 Reg. Privy S. I 413/1.
Punissing of commoun theves, … rebellis, tratouris and utheris trespassouris 1533 Treas. Acc. VI 155.
Skaith sustenit be him in the byrnyng of his grange be the rebellis 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 75.
The multitude of rebellis [is] sa greit as it salbe difficill to knaw thame fra the kingis obedient subjectis 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 31.
Danting rebels quhilkis proudly did transgres 1572 Ib. xxxii 47. 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 377.
Nawyse willing that … England salbe a girth to suche rebellis 1608 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 113.
Houssis … that may be ayd … to ony fugitiue rebell out of the ylles 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 86a.
The lands and tenements of felonis (of rebelles at the horne) quhilk are escheit induring their lyftime 1627 Durie Decis. 267. a1639 Spotsw. Hist. 326.
The rebels or others known to be in his majesties mal-grace c1650 Spalding I 141.
James Grant the rebell gettis his peace fra the king, and now beginis to kythe 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xxvi 3 (1678) 259.
The wand of peace is that whereby they touch a rebel and declares him to be their prisoner 1684 Decis. Lords F. 55.
The horning was twice declared in the two former gifts against the rebel 1684 Melville Chart. 182. 1684–5 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 168.
To four officeris that went to bring in Mcilhaffie rebell his movabellis(b) 1501 Red Bk. Menteith II 304.
Raset of rabellis 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 258.
That na rabellis of Ingland be resset 1606 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. III 56.
The defence was that Broomfield was a rabell and at the horn, for the crime of houghing of oxen(c) 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 446.
Declairtt rebaldis and traytoris(2) 1457 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V ii 802 (21 Oct.).
Disobeyng to na officiaris of the said burgh the quhilk gif thai do thai sal be put to the kyng as commoune rabell agaynis hym a1538 Abell 84a.
Sumyrleid thayn of Argil rabel to the king 1542 Acts II *423/2.
Archibald Dowglace of Kilspinde than tratour & rabell to our said vmquhile souerane lord c1680 Fugitive Poetry I xx 15/76.
They call us rebels to the king, And traitors to the crown: Because we'll not menswear our selves [etc.](3) 1475 Cal. Doc. IV 409.
Oure rebell and tratoure Robert Boid is ressett within your toune of Anwik 1487 Reg. Paisley 272.
Fre remissioun … for the intercommoning in tymes bigain with ony personis being oure rebellis 1489 Acts II 215/2.
That nane of his liegis … commoun with ony of his rebellis now forfalt 1498 Acta Conc. II 285.
Til denunce Jhone, Lord Ros of Halkhed, our soverane lordis rebell and til put him til his horne 1504 Breadalbane Doc. No. 32.
Archibald Erle of Ergile oure lieutennand … for the inuasioun of oure rebellis, vntrew liegis and trespassouris 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 258/1.
Throw the said Androis being … our souerane lordis rebell and at his horne unrelaxit thairfra 1521 Edinb. B. Rec. I 205.
The kingis rebellis and brokin men 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 525/1.
Thai being his rebellis and at his horne as fugitive fra his law 1532 Liber Melros 641. 1533 Bell. Livy I 70/24.
The Sabinis complanit that thare rebellis and transgressouris fled to Asile, the refuge of Rome 1556 Digest Justiciary Proc. B 135.
James … wes not our souerane ladeis leige man bot wes hir grace rebell 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49. 1583 Misc. Spald. C. II 339.
Ordourlie denuncit oure rebell and put to oure horne a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 156.
A partie convict be ane assise of any cryme is not the king's rebell … quhill the doome be pronunced(b) 1510–11 Reg. Privy S. I 336/1.
Rabel(c) 1539–40 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 483.
Rebaldis 1558 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XXVIII 110.
He beand ane lauit man and the quenis rebald and excommunicate(d) 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 391.
For … concurring with the kyngis rybaldis and fortefeing of tham(4) 1536–7 Treas. Acc. VI 310.
Robene Ruthirfurd and his complicis rebellis 1542 Acts II 419/2.
Archibald … and his part takkerris rebellis a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 157.
The superior hes right to the lyfrent of the lands quherin his wassall rebell may be infeft(5) 1525 Acts II 297/2.
The fugitivis … sall be denuncit the kingis rebellis … & all thair gudis his eschete 1538 Reg. Privy S. II 416/1.
The said Schir Johnne declarit barratour, and denuncit rebell and at the horne for breking of the Actis of Parliament 1561 Ib. MS XXX 82.
Ordourlie denuncit hir hienes rebell and put to hir horne for nonobeying of hir graces lettres in the foure formes 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 75.
All personis denuncit and presentlie remaning rebellis [etc.] c1575 Balfour Pract. 651.
Persounis denuncit rebellis a1578 Pitsc. I 52/21.
Ane parlieament to be haldin at Stirling quhair the forsaidis personns war forfalltit and denuncit rebellis to the croun 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 70.
That divers of the shereffis, stewartis [etc.] … for non-compering to mak thair comptis in the chekker at the dayis appointit thairto ar ordourlie denunceit rebellis 1597 Ib. V 424. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
Persons … disobedient to the kingis lawes, baith civill and criminal, … for the quhilk cause some … ar denunced rebelles ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 12.
A poor scattered pack ye are called, ye are call[ed] riballs 1678 Ravillac Redivivus (1678) 73.
For having him declar'd the king's rebel, that is to be solemnly denounc'd an out-law 1681 Stair Inst. iii iii §1.
The party denounced is called rebel, a term too harsh, such persons not being in hostility against the king nor being public enemies but only denounced upon causes civil. … The English do more properly call this execution outlawry, whereby the party becomes outlaw … and if such should be called by us the denounced it were … more suitable than the odious term of rebel Ib. ii iv §61. 1697 Dallas Stiles 289.
Being … orderly denunced rebel and put to the horn by vertue of letters of horning raised, used and execute against him(6) 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 355.
Denuncit him rebell agane 16.. Herries Mem. 37.
She declared these whoe had not appeared ribells

2. One who resists in arms the authority of the established government. Also transf. 1513 Doug. vi xv 18.
Prowd rabellis in batale forto dant 1528 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 80.
The kingis grace grantis to the said lord … for the expulsioun of the saidis rebellis … lx speris … with xxiiij culuenaris with culueringis [etc.] 1649 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 74.
The suppressing of the Northland rebells and our delyverie from ther incursion c1650 Spalding II 233.
Thir sex rebellis schippis settis … thair bred syde to hir lodging a1686 Turner Mem. 284.
The barbarous rebells are cnocking doune thos who serve the king in every cornertransf. 1649 Hist. Fragm. II 91.
Delivered the reabelle arms unto us

3. One who resists divine or spiritual authority. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 499 (Asl.).
The mynd of synnaris is figurit to the hell … Till God and ressoun ryngand as rebell 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 80.
Nor ȝit aganyst our makar to debait As rabell tyll all vertu and gudnes 1549 Compl. 164/35.
Quhiddir that Inglis men be excommunicat and denuncit Goddis rebellis 1562-3 Winȝet I 63/8. 1567 G. Ball. 104.
God, … Ceis not to send thy sanctis sune support, … For thay rebellis with rage do resort