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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.

Rebut(e, -bot(e, Rabut(e, v. Also: -buit, -boit, -boyt(e, -boot. [ME (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. rebut(e, -bout, -buyt, -butte, AF reboter (1302–7), OF reboter, -bouter, rebuter.]

1. tr. To repulse or drive back (an enemy or opponent).(a) 1375 Barb. vii 617 (E).
[Fyften hunder] men … With a few mengne war rebotyt swa, That thai withdrew thaim schamfully Ib. xii 84.
Rebutyt foulily thai war ?1438 Alex. i 22.
Oft the kingis menȝe ware Rebutit, beft and woundit sair c1475 Wall. v 291.
The forseast ay rudely rabutyt he 1513 Doug. xi viii 38.
Quha can that say … That I rebutyt was or dung abak? 1533 Boece 134. 1533 Bell. Livy I 114/2.
For efter that he was rebutit at the said sege … he began to dissymyll his mynde Brus (1571) ii 468.
In this maner rebutit [E. Robert] was The king(b) 1375 Barb. xviii 335.
[They] saw thair herbreouris then Cum reboytit Ib. xii 183, etc. c1420 Wynt. iv 956 (C).
Raboytit [W. reboittit](c) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. ix 11.
Let not thy lau be lichtleit … Bot tak revenge vhen rebels thee reboots

b. To deprive of (something) by repulse. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 180.
Syne [they] went abak reboytit of thair pray 1535 Stewart 58121.
He had far leuer sterue … Of his honour or he rebutit be

2. To repel, reject or rebuff (a person or animal, also a doctrine or book).(1) 1456 Hay II 38/18.
The fault of gude documentis and techingis gerris unworthy men be reboytit and repellit a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1136.
Now is the Round Tabill rebutit c1475 Wall. x 138.
Than he throuch pryd reboytyt all the laiff 1513 Doug. ii i 3.
The Grekis chiftanys … oft rebutyt [Ruddim. rebukit] by fatale destany 1531 Bell. Boece I 24.
The Scottis and Pichtis, more insolent efter this victory than afore, rebutit the Britonis and denyit peace a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 316/46. a1570-86 Balnavis Maitl. F. 359/100.
Bot thow be wyis Scho will suppryis And all thi houndis rebute [: fute] Id. Bann. MS 139a/85.(2) 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 177 (G).
Quhat is expedient to be teychit and obseruit, and quhat to be rebuitit and detestit a1568 Scott i 108.
So reprobatis Christis buke dois rebute Ib. xxxiii 26.

3. To beat or strike.Rendering L. pulsāre. 1533 Boece 232b.
Thay distroyit Westmarland … schamefully rebuting [L. pulsare] men and wemen waik and febil 1533 Bell. Livy I 260/3.
The small pepill … complenyng thame self oft tymes violentlie strikin and rebutit [L. pulsatos] be this Ceso

4. To assail (a person) verbally; to revile or abuse. a1400 Leg. S. xii 174.
Rubene … cane hyme faste reboyte; & he hyme with wordis fell Answerte 1535 Stewart 22669 heading.
How the Britis rebutit Conan for his gude counsall 1557 Inverness Rec. I 14.
He rabuttit tham … calland tham commone skeularis [etc.] 1558 Ib. 20.
He rabuttit his wyf for the takyn of his hors 1560–1 Ib. 50.
And quhar ewyr onne onfre browstar rabuttis or raprewis the officiaris cunstaris of this bruch or [etc.] 1561 Ib. lxix.
Gyf he beys fundyn flittand or rabuttan anie nychtbour

b. To reproach or rebuke (a person). — c1475 Wall. x 595.
Rabut me now no mar; Myn awin dedis has bet me wondyr sar