Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Rent, v.² [ME and e.m.E. rente(n (Chaucer), rent(t(e, var. of pres. stem of Rend v. after the p.t. and p.p. rent.]In e.m.E. p.t. rented is recorded once (Caxton).For rent as p.t. or p.p., see Rend v.

1. tr. To lacerate (the flesh). = Rend v. 2. Also fig. 1513 Doug. xii x 132.
Than all the laif … Rentis and ruggis thame self as thai war wod 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 219.
And I cryed to George … to rescue me fra this mad woman and mad dog who is tearing and renting me and wounding mefig. 1513 Doug. iii i 77.
Quhy rentis thou a wrechit creatur? 1588 King Cat. Certane Deuot Prayers 37b.
O Halie … Trinitie … wha suffers sa lang thame that rentes thé 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 362.
The thornie cairs of this deceitfull lyfe, Will rent ȝour heart

2. To tear (in pieces) or apart. Also fig. = Rend v. 3. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 281.
Thraw it [sc. my book] in the fyre or rent it euery crum Ib. iv xi 31.
Mycht I not caucht and rent in pecis his cors … ? Ib. viii iv 106.
Hercules … assays … To brek and rent that craggy stone entre c1610 Melville Mem. (1735) 92.
Then sche did rent [1827 rawe] her angry letter 1638 Henderson Serm. 324.
The Lord … was renting his heavens 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 467.
Sie that they play not at ony … pastime … such as may ather reddilie defyle or rent thair cloaths — 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 546.
In diverse partes his dowbtsome minde he rents

3. To tear (a thing) from (out of) its usual place or from a person. Also to tear owt or foorth.Cf. Rend v. 5 a. 1513 Doug. iv ix 86.
Thai … owt gan rent and tak The lump betwix the new born folys eyn Ib. x viii 29.
Spulȝe … Quhilk heir I sall rent from myne aduersar a1578 Pitsc. II 55/33.
I haue no doubt bot God sall rent the autoriete out of ȝour handis 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 243.
And renting foorth (enrage't) her golden haire

4. intr. To tear. 1513 Doug. xi xiv 73.
Evir the sarar this ern strenys hys gryp, And with hys bowand beik rentis grewsly