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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RAT, n.2, v.1 Also ratt, raat, raut, rawt (Sc. 1887 Jam.); rot(t). Dim. rattie.

I. n. 1. A rut, groove, deep scratch (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Uls. a.1908 Traynor (1953); Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; s.Sc. 1967), a line drawn on the soil as a guide to planting (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 145, rot). Comb. cart-rot, the track made by a cartwheel (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).Slg. 1759 Session Papers, Petition J. Chalmers (18 Dec.) 13:
He has observed sometimes in the Summer the Mark or Ratt of a small Road, just like a Sheep Road.
Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A rat with a prein, scratch with a pin.
Wgt. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 52:
It had made a raut on the boards . . . wi' swingin' back and forrit.
Uls. 1900 D. Deeney Peasant Lore 34:
I heared the raat o' th' bows across the strings.

2. A row of vegetable plants; a short drill of turnips (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 145:
He planted sax rots o' kail.

II. v., tr. and intr. To scratch, to make a rut or groove (in) (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. a.1908 Traynor (1953)); to abrade or graze (Arg. 1936 L. McInnes S. Kintyre 15). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis:
The verb ratt or rott signifies to make deep draughts, scores or impressions, as of any sharp thing dragged along the ground, to rip, scratch, rend.
Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 18:
Ma skuil sklate's aa raateet wui this skartin skeelie. Here, ma little man, dinna stand on ony o the cheirs or ee'll ratt thum wui eer buits.
Arg.1 1931:
I wuz efter 'um lake a shot, but I lost ma bunnet an' I raated mi airm on the dake so I gied up the chase.
Edb. 1954:
Look at the wey the windae's aa ratted wi that screw.

[O.Sc. rat, to scratch, a.1508, a rut, furrow, 1513. Origin obscure, phs. imit. influenced by Rit, v. For rot see R, letter.]

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"Rat n.2, v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rat_n2_v1>

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