Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

REKSTER, n. Also rexter; rakster (Marw.).

1. A going or proceeding (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.); a pursuit (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), progress.Jak.:
He made a puir rekster, he did not gain much.

2. A stretch or extent of land (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), esp. of poor land (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Sh. 1948 New Shetlander (Jan.-Feb.) 10:
Da hills ta da noard an' aest o' Weisdaal ir full o' ljoags an shüns an dir rexter is immense.

3. A long journey or drive, esp. when driving sheep (Sh. 1904 E.D.D.), sometimes implying fruitless effort (Sh. 1968).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
What a rekster I'm had me. . . . He's made him a rekster, he made a journey (without success).

4. An enclosure into which sheep are driven (Jak.), a walled track along which sheep are driven. Hence rekster-dyke, a wall which helps to control the driving of animals (Ib.); rekster-goe, a creek used for this (Sh. 1904 E.D.D.). See Geo.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 175:
To facilitate the driving [of sheep] small branch dykes run out in two directions from the krö. These were termed soadin or rexter dykes.

5. Speed, pace.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Der wer a guid rekster upon him.

6. A pulling of the ears as a punishment, a trouncing, a dressing-down. Also as vbl. deriv. rakstering.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
I'll giv dee a rekster.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
She gae him a proper raksterin.

7. A confusion, a mess.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
‘A' in a rakster' — of anything gone to ruin or confusion.