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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1617, 1670
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Rew, Ru(e, n.1 Also: reu. [F. rue (c1050 in Larousse) a street, L. rūga a crease on the face, a wrinkle.] A street.(1) 1375 Barb. xiv 221.
The rewys all bludy war Off slayne men a1400 Legends of the Saints xliii 75.
In a rew, callit ‘via apia’ c1400 Troy-bk. ii 82 (C).
Thrught all the rewes … The peple joye and solace maid c1460 Wisdom of Solomon (S.T.S.) 502.
Lukand out at het and stinkand durris and the rewis 1512–13 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 140.
To clenge rewes, windis, closis, and guttaris, bayth on baksyd and foresyd 1513 Doug. ii xi 78.
We pas by secret wentis and quyet rewys 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 182/7.
Reu 15.. Clariodus iv 2289.
The rewis faire, With silke and arras that arrayit war 1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 26.
Throw … puttyng avay of the rew or landis amangis quhilkis the samyn [booth] standis 1579 Despauter (1579).
Angiportus, ane lytill rew or clois a1586 Lindsay MS 44.
Cum … vnto the plane rewis montit and armit [Loutfut planis reus montes & armes] with mesurit speiris 1587-99 Hume 53/23.
Let all the streets, the corners, and the rewis, Be strowd with leaues 1600-1610 Melvill 43.
At the turn of a rew they meit the procession 1617 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 77.
They drew hime throch all the best reus in Paris(b) 1375 Barb. xv 71.
All the ruys ran of blud 1588 Haddington Presb. Rec. in Mill Mediæval Plays 253.
We sall nother permit … ganging of the ruys in time of preiching(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints ii 575.
And of this towne pase til a rew Quhare that Juda dwellis now 1535–6 Aberd. Trades 50.
And sall pas every day thro all the rewis and stretis of the guid tovn 1565 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæval Plays 153.
Johnne Kelo belman … past … throw all the rewis and gettis of this toune 1603 Ib. (Sp.C.) II 237.
Throcht the haill rewis of the towne(3) 1533 Bell. Livy I 105/16.
Ane place callit the Cypriane rew c1670 Gordon's Aberd. 14.
Ther is a lane that leadeth from the Castellgate Street to the key or wharfe, called the Exchequer Rue — 1570 Leslie 278.
At Paris, in the rew of Sanct Anthony
b. Applied to the inhabitants of a street, collectively. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 351.
Quhen thay princis appeirit into Paris, Ilk rew ryallie with riches thame arrayis
c. A village. c1420 Wynt. v 359.
Saynt Petyr … In tyll the rew [C. rew of] Bethsayda … Past
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"Rew n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rew_n_1>
