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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.

Rebat(e, Rabate, v. Also: rebatt, -bait, -bet(t, -beat, (-balt). P.p. also rebait, etc. [Late ME (1427) and e.m.E. rebate, rabate (1530), F. rabattre (12th c.).]

1. tr. To reduce or lessen (a task, duty or activity). Const. double obj. or simple obj. 1456 Hay II 94/25.
It efferis to the king … to … defalk and rebate thame sumpart of thair devoiris a1634 Forbes Rec. 383.
Neither Counsell nor Commissioners rebaited ought in their course

b. To reduce (a sum) or lower (a price). 1545 Fam. Rose 212.
[He] hes rebaltit large of his proffitt that the few of the saidis landis ar wourth 1599 Acts IV 181/1.
Thay cryit down and rebaittit the same to the first moderate prices

c. To charge (a person) less by way of a rebate. 1594–5 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 6a.
He is rebet for spelt wyne, x s.

d. To charge for (a commodity) less than the market price. 1597–8 Household Bks. Jas. VI I 23 Feb.
This dayis breid rebatitt for nocht being wecht & non sufficience thairoff 1598 Ib. II 16 Aug.
The aill of this day rebatit for euill and ontymeous furnissing

2. To allow (money or goods) (to a person) by way of reduction from a total amount or quantity; to subtract from (of) a total; to deduct.In certain quots. f. Orkney Rentals, ? active with passive sense rather than noun (sing. or pl.).(1) 1489 Acts II 222/1.
And samekle as it is wer na Paris siluer … to be defalkit and rabatit in the price of the said siluer 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. MS (Jam.).
Ordanit to rebait als mekil of the pryce, or to resaif it again 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII 142*.
xl merkis … quhilk scho ordanit to be rebaitet to hir said fader … of the sowme … auchtand be him to hir said husband 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 43b.
Rebetit to the said Robert Tode for wate skinis and want of skinis v frankis xv sows 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 334.
Quhairof thair is to be rebatted to the marchand for his lekkage the tenth penny 1613 Orkney Rentals App. 95.
The countest of Orknay quhilk payit … 9 m. 1 st. malt and now payis bot 7 m. 1 st. … and sua rebettis 2 m. malt 1614 Ib. ii 118.
Rebett 2 m. malt Ib.
This 10 m. cost was never pt. butt onlie [etc.] … swa rebett heir 10 m. cost Ib. 126.
This land … was disponit to the man his sone [etc.] … be charter and seisin … and swa rebettis this landmeallis Ib. 140.
For the quhilk thair rebeattis 22 mk. ully 1622-6 Bisset II 222/25.
The tent pairt to the said admirall to be rebait [pr. nebait] Ib. 229/6.
The admirall may tak him of new agane payand the said ransoun rebaittand upoun the samin his said richt of the tent penny 1677 Cunningham Diary 94.
To Ja. Mortoun to complete his year's fie. … It should have been 14 lb. 10 s., but I rebated 4 s. for a housing girth he lost 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 638.
There being rebeat 3 bolls 3 firlotts for making it unground malt(2) 1557 Aberd. Council Lett. I 3.
Gif it comes to ony mair it will be rebatit of the latter payment of the taxation 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 507.
Rebatand … xii d. of the pryce of ilk stane wecht 1576–7 Ib. 601.
Twa schillingis onelie of ilk unce for his laubour to be rebaitit 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 72a.
He is restand awne me ane honderis and xv pound … to rebet of thes sum vii s. 6 d. for want of monye 1614 Orkney Rentals ii 134.
Summa of gersume ilk 3 yeiris £41 therof is to be rebettit for the landis never found 50 s.; swa remains to be payit £38, 10 s. Ib. 143.
Summa of scatt silver £3, 9 s. 3 d.; rebettis heirof for gleib and mans 6 d. sua remainis £3, 8 s. 9 d. Ib.
Quherof is to be rebetit for the glib and mans 1622-6 Bisset II 80/6.
For the said procuratouris panes … thairanent salhave rebaitted in his comptis iij s. of ilk pund 1679 Edinb. B. Rec. X 371.
That he might get rebaitted what he pleased of the tack dewty

3. To pay (an amount due); to make good (a financial loss). 1564–5 Reg. Privy S. V i 536/1.
The said Servais to ansuer for all thingis … and gife ony thing inlaikis … it sal be rebaittit in his feall c1575 Balfour Pract. 615.
He sall have his hire, repayand and rebateand the expensis made on him the time of his seiknes 1614 Misc. Spald. C. V 218.
Ther masteris to bind for them, that, incaice they be challenged heirefter … ther masteris sall rebate ther skaithe

4. In swordplay: To reduce the effect of (a stroke or blow); to parry.Also in fig. context. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 149/333.
He … Cumd to a combat sett assayes all kynde of uardes he can Escheuis, rabattis, strikkis out [etc.] c1590 J. Stewart 31/46.
Quhyls hiche, quhyls low, the skelping sourds did bend, Quhyls thay rebat, and quhyls thay scharplie schair 1609 Garden Garden 39.
So as a bulwark … Rebeatting Fortunes bloes I stand a1625 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 381.
The goodman … drew his sword, and rebaitting the first straik [etc.] a1651 Calderwood IV 474.
That he may eshew the strokes, yea that he may rebatt them, and putt them off

5. To make less sharp, to blunt (a sword). 1494 Loutfut MS 45a.
And thai sall tournay with suerdis but poynt & rabatit