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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rascal(l, -kal(l, -chall, n. and adj. Also: rais-, res- and -kel(l, -keil, -chell. [ME (Manning) and e.m.E. ras-, rescaile, raskaille, -caille, rasskayle, late ME and e.m.E. rascal (1461–83), -kell (c1474), ras(s)call, -kal(l, raschal (1660), OF rascaille, -caile, rescaille (12th c.; mod. F. racaille), ONorman *rasquer to crowd together in a disorderly manner (Larousse), late L. *rasicare, f. L. ras- p.p. stem of radere scrape, tear, offend, etc.]

A. noun. 1. coll. Rabble, low persons. 1571 Bann. Memor. 116.
Althocht the principallis will do him … no hurt yit thei can not pleadge thair honouris for his savetie fra the multitude and rascall 1593 Elgin Rec. II 31.
Accusit for going through the toun with certane raskell in company with him 1600-1610 Melvill 308.
They concitat the multitud and popular crafts and rascall, be thair words

2. A person of low birth, one of the rabble or mob. c1590 J. Stewart 229 §117.
I am no raskall, bot at prencis aeir I do frequent 1600 Crim. Trials II 158.
With whom past a nowmer of ten or tuelff raskallis of the toun

b. A camp-follower. a1634 Read Buch. 263.
An number of rascalls and scullions following the campe

3. A rogue or knave.Also, once, applied to an animal.(1) 1591-2 Rob Stene 14.
As watteris lang restraint do gusche Sa did thais rascallis [sc. the wolf, etc.] rudly ruche(2) 1597–8 Crim. Trials II 31.
And the saidis seditious raskallis and ye inclosit the kirk-style 1642 Kirkcaldy Presb. 234.
Sowmonit … for calling the elders of Dysert raiscalls 1666–7 Blakhall Narr. 13.
You are a baise rascal and a mensworne couard 1670 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 259.
He … pulled of the baillies hat and … called him base raskell, and lousie knaue 1671 Lauder Notices Affairs I 21.
False mensworn raskals 1671 Inverness Presb. 14.
You base raskall, how durst yee bee so peart 1684-9 Glamis Bk. Record 15.
A bas uncivil raskel Ib. 43.
I persued the reskal crimenaly Ib.
Reskel 1700 Stitchill Baron Ct. 145.
Raskeil

B. adj. Belonging to or making up the rabble; also, ? knavish. Also transf. a1568 Linvoy Bann. MS 243b/52.
So dois ȝour visage schyne als cleir As rose amang the raschell rowt 1558-66 Knox II 155.
The raschall multitude … maid insurrectioun Ib. 157, etc. 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 132.
Rascall people … leaving upoun unlauchfull meanys … under the cullour of the men of weare Ib. 137.
The commoun and rascall sort of people 1585 Ib. III 752.
[Spread of the ‘pestilence’] the cheif occasioun thairof being the confluence … of rascall people and utheris wicked personis 1590 Conv. Burghs I 324.
It is commoun to … the rascall multitude, seiking the alteratioun … of the ciuile gouernement … to couer thair desyr … vnder sum honest pretence 1593 Acts IV 45/1.
A grite nowmer of the rascall multitude inhabitantis of the said citie 1600 Elgin Rec. II 81.
The infamous bill giffin in be the raskall soirt 1606 Melrose P. 18.
Sum rascall seruandis … drew thair swourdis c1615 Chron. Kings 152.
Ane gritt number of rascall pepill 1650 Fugitive Poetry II xxiv 4/4.
Goe with your renting rascall rabletransf. a1605 Montg. Sonn. lxiii 14.
Nather they ar sik as thou hes said, Nor I am he these rascall raylings maid

b. In weakened sense: ? Petty; ? of poor quality. — a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. 124/172.
In poetrie I pleis to pas the tyme … Bot gif I mell with meter or with ryme With rascall rymouris I sall reknit be