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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.

REENGE, v.², n.² Also reinge; ringe; range; rench, rensch (Sc. 1887 Jam.). [rinʒ, renʒ]

I. v. 1. To rinse, swill, flush with clean water (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., Cai., Lnk. 1968). Also fig. and in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1743 Ho. Bk. Lady G. Baillie (S.H.S.) 274:
As soon as a glass is drunk out of, range it derectly in the brass pail which you must have there with water for that purpos.Inv. 1812 Memoirs of a Highl. Lady (ed. Lady Strachey 1898) 161:
The washing and rinsing days (called by the maids ranging).Edb. 1856 J. Ballantine Poems 13:
Whaur barefitted lassies amang the green braes, In the wee gushing burn ringe their siller-white claes.Sc. 1868 G. Webster Strathbrachan II. i.:
Rangin' a handie wi' a drap saippie suds.Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong Robbie Rankine at Exhibition 26:
Ca'd through a warm sowp, ranged, wrung and hung oot to dry.

2. To clean (a vessel, etc.) by scraping or scrubbing round, to scour (Kcd. c.1890; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Mry.¹ 1925; Rxb. 1968). Deriv. ranger, reenger (Ayr. 1880 Jam.), ringer (Cld. 1880 Jam.), a pot-scrubber made of heather twigs (Rxb. 1825 Jam., ‡1923 Watson W.-B., ranger; wm.Sc. 1968). See also heather ranger s.v. Heather, n., 5. (26).Edb. 1700 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 272:
To grissell to buy a duzen heather rangers of barrells. . . . 2s. 0d.Sc. c.1800 The Nightingale 191:
Besoms for a penny, rangers for a plack.

3. transf. To beat, thrash. Vbl.n. reengin'.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A guid reengin'.

II. n. 1. A rinse, a swilling, cleaning, scouring (Sh., Ags. 1968).Cld. 1880 Jam.:
Gie the claes a ringe in cauld water.Ags. 1914 I. Bell Country Clash 33:
I whiles see his parritch pat sittin at the door. . . . I dinna think it ever gets a reenge oot ava.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Gae hid anither range and then hid'll do.

2. A scrubber made of heather twigs, esp. used for cleaning out cooking utensils (Per. 1738 Ochtertyre Ho. Bk. (S.H.S.) 118; ne., e. and wm.Sc. 1968), or brushing flues (Fif. 1968). See also heather-range s.v. Heather, n., 5. (26). Comb. ringe-heather the cross-leaved heath, Erica tetralix, from its use in making scrubbers (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Deriv. reenger, one who makes pot-scrubbers (Slg. 1968).Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 68:
Stravagin' the country sellin' heather reenges.Lnk. 1863 J. Brown J. Leech (1882) 330:
Adam Thomson, who made and sold heather besoms, and “ranges”, and “basses”Fif. 1886 A. Stewart Dunfermline 184:
Some of the men . . . made horn spoons, heather besoms and rainges.Ags. 1934 H. B. Cruickshank Noran Water 20:
Heather reenges sell richt weel.