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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.

Ras(c)h(e, Res(c)h, n.¹ Also: raich; ressch; Ras. [ME resshe (Wyclif), reysshe, resch (a1400–50), e.m.E. resh, rashe (1548); ME rysse (a1200), rysch(e, riss(c)h(e, e.m.E. rysh(e, rish(e; also ME and e.m.E. rus(s)(h)(e, OE resc(e, risc(e, rix(e, MDu. risch, MLG risch(e, rysse, risk, etc.; Rische n.]

1. A rush; the plant.Also, in earliest use, as a place-name element.(1) 1165–1214 Liber Melros I 123.
Raschahe(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 2185.
Than Idorus of rashes and strais Full fetasly ane croun sho mais 1497 Treas. Acc. I 352.
For raschis to the kingis chamir 1502 Ib. II 151.
For xxiiij birding of rasches to the place in Strivelin 1503 Ib. 382. 1507 Ib. IV 83.
For rasches to the chamir fluris in Strivelin 1549 Compl. 42/30.
The scheiphyrdis vyuis cuttit raschis and seggis Ib. 64/27.
Cou thou me the raschis grene Ib. 67/24.
Raschis that prouokis men to sleip 1579 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 80.
For rascheis & bent to the new kirk at the assemblie xij s. 1596 Dalr. I 94/22.
Thair heid thay laid vpon … a greine turfe, or sum of the greiner bent or raschis 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 82. 1667 Highland P. II 11.
She lived now on the crumms … that she gott for pulling rashes to the beds 1673 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 19 July.
To cause red and clenge the school … and to provyde rashes or hay for the bairnes to sit upon 1685 Erskine Diary 134.(b) 1489 Treas. Acc. I 118.
For resschis to the Haw off Lythquow a1538 Abell 5a.
Moyses put in ane instrument of reschis in the see 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Iuncus, a resh(c) 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II 283.
To the queenis luging on Corporisachristeis day, … for flouris and raichis(3) 1653 Elgin Rec. II 404.
The Counsell … to conveine Mr. George Cuming schoolmaster before them for not goeing to the rashes with the bairnes

b. attrib. 1623 Edinb. Test. LII 72b.
xij dussin raschbandis pryce of all xij s. — 1641 Acts V 379/1.
[The horse] had ane rashe colthellter in his head — 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 82.
Hie saw … William passand up to the rasche puill — 1602 Reg. Great S. 456/2.
The teillit rasche-riggis of the saidis landis — 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 243.
[The croft and] rashyeard [called Coorallhill]

2. In fig., allusive or proverbial expressions. a1500 Sir Eger 201.
Mine harnes helped not me a resh 1585 Calderwood IV 304.
The word of a prince sould be a sattled stay for a subject to rest upon, and not seeke, as the proverb is, a knott in a rash a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 188.
Better na ring, nor the ring of a rashe 1609 Garden Garden 24.
Like as the date … Does vpright rise and levell like a rash [: fresh] a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 291.
Better have na ring, nor a ring of a rash 16.. Trip and Goe Hey in Wode's Psalter (ed.) 245.
The ring of the rash of the gowan In the cool of the night Came my ladie home