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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.

Rebel(l, v. Also: rabell. P.t. also rebeld. P.p. also -belt. [ME (1340) and e.m.E. rebel(l)(e, F. rebeller, L. rebellāre f. bellāre to fight.]

1. intr. To oppose or resist an established authority, as by refusing allegiance or rising in arms; to disobey a lawful superior.Const. aganis, to, till, and without const.To be rebelland, to be in a state of rebellion (f. Rebelland ppl. adj.). To be rebellit, in the same sense.(1) 1409 Exch. R. IV ccxi.
Gif ony … rebellis or disobesis till ony of the saide lordis 1456 Hay I 60/30.
A citee that was callit Turannes, that rebellit till him Ib. 198/29.
Be the law the bonde aw rycht nocht to do, but leve of his lorde, and sa … he aw till obey him, and nocht … rebell till him c1460 Regim. Princ. 241 (Maitl.).
Quhen ony man rebellis to the crowne … Deforceand scheref masar or seriand 1513 Doug. xi vi 95.
Quhou [Pyrrus] aganys Idomens the kyng Hys kyndly goddis and cuntre dyd rebell Ib. xii iv 65. 1517 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 88.
Schir Donald of the Ylis his complesis and part takaris that rabellis aganis the croune a1578 Pitsc. I 206/18.
His enemeis quho had rissin and rebellit aganis him 1666 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 160.
That no man openly … rebell against the king under the pain of forfaulting life, land, and goods(2) c1475 Wall. vi 782.
Quha wald rebell and gang contrar the rycht He punyst sar 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 486.
Eskdale [etc.] … Durste nocht rebell 1533 Boece 248.
Britouns ȝit tending bot to rebell 1535 Stewart 6054. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4961.
Gif ony realme or regioun vp wald rise In contrair Rome, or rebell 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 52.
Seing that the toun of Edinburgh could not be perswadit to rebell with thame a1570-86 Maitland Maitl F. 333/15.
Grit nwmber ar in dyuers landis That prince and magistrat ganestandis Rebelland creuellie 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 116.
Grange … dois rebell and will not serue the king 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii 186.
He … Abandoned the borders that na man durst rebellp.t. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1700 (Bann.).
The moist pairt of his leigis, all, Rebeld(3) 1375 Barb. ix 649 (see Rebel(l adj. a (1)). ?14.. Ship Laws c. 15 (B).
Gyf ony of thaim be rebelland aganys hym he aw to put hym owte of the schyp c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2556.
A cuntre … Quhilk to King Philip ay rebelland was 1533 Bell. Livy II 3/21.
Claudius … clamit hir sayand scho was his servand … commanding hir tharefore to follow him as hir maister, with certificatioun gif scho war rebelland he wald tak hir perforce(4) 1488 Paisley B. Rec. 28.
Supporting and resetting of ony persons being rebelt and at the horne 1533 Bell. Livy I 88/2.
Sic pepill as war rebellit aganis Romanis 1535 Stewart 14933.
Skantlie he micht hald Britane into rest, So oft rebellit

b. In transf. or fig. applications.(1) 1567 G. Ball. 120.
Gude Lord I knaw my wickitnes, Contrair to thy command, Rebelland ay with cruelnes a1605 Montg. Devot. P. vi 64.
At that bar Quhair nane rebelis, bot all obeyis(2) c1590 J. Stewart 84/146.
Gif ether visdome, force, or vordie fak, Mycht haif rebellit quhaire thy [sc. Fortune's] baile is boune(3) 1538 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 196.
Ony man or voman that vyll abus and rebell aganes the said stait to produce thairis rychtis this xl dayes under payne of syllens and never to be hard 1562-3 Winȝet II 68/24.
Gif … ane part sal rebel contrare the vniuersalitie [etc.] 1570 Sat. P. x 122.
Thame … That did rebell aganis justice and law

c. To be in disagreement with, opposed to (another person). — 1533 Bell. Livy I 200/30.
The faderis and pepill, howbeit thare myndis war rebelland [L. rebellantes] to vthir, faucht with grete felicite aganis the Wolchis

2. tr. To oppose rebelliously. c1420 Wynt. viii 303 (W).
Quhen he [sc. King John] rebellit the pape of Rome c1450-2 Howlat 562 (A).
Quhen thai rebellit the crovne & couth the kyng deire 1456 Hay I 109/11.
Quhy than suld thair subjectes rebell thame? Ib. 125/15.
Quhen ever a baroun risis to mak were on his king, or rebell him in ony thing tocum agaynis him, he fallis in the crime of lese mageste c1590 J. Stewart 13/41.
As sillie scheip dar not the volf rebell