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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.

REE, adj.¹, n.², v.² Also rie; †rae, ray. [ri:; Fif.†re:]

I. adj. 1. Tipsy, befuddled with liquor (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 406; Ork. 1904 E.D.D.; Cai.³ 1931; Ork. 1967).Rnf. 1754 Session Papers, Cumming v. Cross (8 Dec.) 1:
He had been drinking and was pretty rie.Abd. 1765 J. Robertson Bon-Accord (1839) 94:
[He] appeared to be ree, and as if he had been drunk the night before.Gsw. 1807 J. Chirrey Misc. Poetry 133:
Grown ree, the tane, tho' but a mouse, Began to cock his neb fu' crouse.Dmf. 1817 W. Caesar Poems 85:
And weel in rhyme she likes to prance When ree wi' toddy.Ags. 1821 J. Ross Peep at Parnassus 17:
The deadly nightshade they infus'd An' drank till they were ree.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. xiv.:
As muckle siller, as would hae kept ony honest man blithe and ree frae New'ersday to Hogmanae.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xv.:
Tammie, poor creature, I observed, was a whit ree with the good cheer.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 335:
Ye loe a' ye see, like Rab Roole when he's ree.Slg. 1885 A. Murray Poems 95:
Nae mair I'll spree, I'll ne'er feel ree, I'll ne'er be fou' an' frisky, O.Dmb. 1894 D. MacLeod Past Worthies 207:
I'm mair than hauf-ree — na, I'm clean fou.Ork. 1913 Old-Lore Misc. VI. iv. 179:
Round went the cog then till all had partaken, and those who were not by this time “fairly ree” added a few words, such as “Here's luck,” or “Here's a wir health I wiss.”

2. Over-excited, frenzied, delirious, crazy (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl., ray; Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Ork., Fif. 1967). Also fig. Comb. ree--brained.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 222:
He was a ree-brained divell, but thought nothing of it, as all the British are so when they come abroad.Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 193:
Read, an' leugh, maist like to worry, Till my pow grew haflins ree.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 61:
Ree teeps that your soun' judgement crubbit, An' for mad tricks hae aften drubbit.Dmf. 1825 Jam.:
“A ree yad”, a wild or high-spirited mare; “a ree chap”, a wild blade.Fif. 1855 Fife Herald (15 Feb.) 3:
A hearse — the sight o'd drives me clean rae — I'll no can sleep for thoughts o'd.Mry. 1899 C. A. Elf Hill Birnie 12:
Ye're wudd, ye're ree, yere clean-daft.Gall. c.1900 Gallovidian (1912) XIV. 186:
Yon frost at nicht and east winds high Made gimmers ree, and unco shy.Ayr. c.1920:
As ree as a yett on a windy day.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Ree. Mad, infuriated, beside oneself: e.g. of cows let out for a race in winter going galloping helter-skelter; also of persons.Uls. 1953 Traynor:
He's ree for the women. . . . The horse is a bit ree.

II. n. 1. A state of befuddlement, intoxication.Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
In a ree, in a state of temporary delirium; expressive of the state of one who has not slept off intoxication.

2. A state of great excitement or frenzy (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 141; Sc. 1880 Jam.; Uls. 1929). Hence deriv. reefu, erron. rierfou, frenzied, frantic.Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 504:
Wi' that Rob Roy gae a rair, A rierfou' rowt rais'd he.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 14:
She spy'd the thief, an' gae the reefu' rair.Abd. 1882 T. Mair John o' Arnha' 20:
The reefu' rair o' savage throats Was heard at Kirriemuir —.

III. v. 1. To become extremely excited, to fly into a rage (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 141; Ork. 1967). Also in n.Eng. dial.

2. tr. To drive into a state of excitement, to fire with enthusiasm. Nonce.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie In Two Tongues 59:
And wi' the roarin' fire the prince was reed.