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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.

REIRD, n., v. Also reirde, reerd; reard; raird, and dim. reardie, rairdie (Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.; Bnff., Lth., wm.Sc. 1880 Jam.). [rerd]

I. n. 1. A roar, a loud outcry, a clamorous protest.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 80:
And sic a Reird ran thro the Rout.ne.Sc. a.1725 Habbyac on A. Ramsay 3:
For a the Din, an a the Raird.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 147:
At nine months' end you'll hear the rairds In our Scotch kirks.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel ii.:
The tottering deevil coupit ower amang his ain pigs, and damaged a score of them. And then the reird raise.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 21:
Noo an' than we hear a flist, A reerd wud deeve Van Winkle.

2. A loud vocal outburst, a scolding tongue, a raucous laugh or the like (Rxb. 1954 Hawick News (18 June) 7, Rxb. 1968).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 44:
A House with a Reek, and a Wife with a Reerd, will soon make a Man run to the Door.Sc. 1821 Scots Mag. (April) 351:
Mony lang rairds o' dandillie tehein' an fliskmahaigo chit-chat.Sc. 1935 D. Rorie Lum Hat 58:
A reekin' lum's ill, but a wife wi' a raird Is fit to gar ony man bite on his baird.

3. Of sheep or cattle: lowing or bleating (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).

4. A cracking or crashing noise, a loud report (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems Gl., 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 243:
Till far and near, wood, rock and cave, The thunderin' reird return.

‡5. A noisy breaking of wind (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Abd. 1968).Sc. a.1714 Jacobite Relics (Hogg 1819) 71:
Then she ga'e a snore, And then she ga'e a reirde.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 70:
Beckin she loot a fearfu' Raird, That gart her think great Shame.Peb. 1817 R. Brown Lintoun Green 168:
Behind his ears, That made them ring, a raird, Exploding downwards.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
He loot a great raird.

6. A wild, noisy frolic or quarrel, a shindy (Lth., wm.Sc. 1880 Jam., reardie). Cf. Reerie.

7. A scold (Sc. 1818 Sawers).

II. v. 1. tr. and intr. To shout, roar, to raise a great outcry; of sheep or cattle: to bleat, low, bellow (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).Rnf. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 47:
Sing his praise . . . An' raird it up.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 134:
The town-crier wi' his clap Gan throu' the streets to reird and rap.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 164:
This carle could rairdet a sang wi' the youngest.

†2. To scold, rail in a loud voice (Sc. 1818 Sawers). Adj. reardin, scolding, abusive.Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems II. 133:
Lang Mack disna ken me, an' that gars him raird.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Leaderside Leg. 25:
Jenny was a Jezebel, a reardin, flytin jade.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 186:
She laup, an' rampaugd, an' rairdit, an' flate.

3. To brag, to boast loudly (Rxb. 1968).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
He was rairdin' away.

4. To make a loud cracking or crashing noise (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Kcb. 1968).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 403:
Ice is said to be rairding, when it is cracking from some cause.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 58:
And the town's drum, as if for battle, Reirdin' awa' wi' furious rattle.

5. To break wind (Sc. 1818 Sawers).Edb. 1829 G. Wilson Sc. Laverock 170:
An' what wad gar him rift and raird, An' gar his puddens wallop.