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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.

Red(e, Reid, n.³ Also: reide, reyd, read(e, reod. [? Var. of Rad(e n., but cf. Fris. reed, MDu. rede, reede, MLG rede, reide, ON reið. Cf. also Rode n.²]

1. a. An armed incursion; a raid. = Rad(e n. 1.(1) c1475 Wall. viii 1076.
A red thai maid and to the castell ȝeid, Strak doun the ȝett and tuk that thai mycht wyn 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 289.
My lord … gart mak ane red on est Tavydall to redwire the rebellis to obedience 1568 Buch. Indict. 36.
The said erll maid ane reid in Lyddisdaill 1592–3 Stirling B. Rec. II 378. 1600-1610 Melvill 58.
And thairfor maid a read against them(2) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 91.
Ther is taking at this rede dyvers gentillmen off the Mers 1573 Lanark B. Rec. 69.
The last red quhilk wes upon the theifes 1626 Garden Worthies 100.
Read [: plead] 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 71.
Tenants … to … ride with his lordship … in all conventions and reids … in defence of the kingdome

b. A muster. = Rad(e n. 2. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 261.
The laird of Munwhanye, who befoir had bene sumoned to Leith, for being absent fra the readis a1578 Pitsc. II 257/8.
The haill lordis and barronis of the Mernes Angus Stratherne and Fyff with all the borrowis that come fordward to the regent to Leith and this was the first quarter reid 1584 Elgin Rec. I 174.
He is noth able to cum to our oistis, reidis, weiris and assembles butt greitt danger of his lyff

c. A particular raid or muster. = Rad(e n. 3. 1568 Chron. Perth 3.
The read of Langsyde 1585 Perth B. Ct. 17 Aug.
His hame cuming fra the reid of Striveling callit the Joup Reid 1592 Chron. Perth 5.
The read of Faulkland be the Erll of Bothwall quha assaileit the king 1594 Misc. Spald. C. II 123.
Red 1610 Conv. Burghs II 299.
The burghs of Nairne … Sancheir restis awand … for thair taxatione for abyding fra the read of the Ilis

2. A road or way; a journey. Also, fig., a course of action.Cf. Rad(e n. 4. a1500 Sir Eger 1537.
By his body and by his red And by his countenance he made And by his course that he did run 1535 Stewart 25441.
[They] Skaillit thair ost; syne tuke ane vther reid, And euerie man ȝeid hame to his awin steid 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 563.
Bot yit, or he bound to the read, How that his packmantie was maed I think it best for to declair — a1568 Bann. MS 226a/24.
May scho nocht sair rew that reid [: deid]

3. A roadstead or anchorage. = Rad(e n. 6.See also Reich n. 1561 Aberd. B. Rec. I 334.
Quhatsumewir schip of gudis sellabill arrywis to the port, hevin, or reyd 1558-66 Knox I 105.
Other … entered not only within readis bot also within portes c1575 Balfour Pract. 51.
The read, havin or port of Leyth a1578 Pitsc. I 194/30.
He … gart incontinent pas to his schippis quhilk was lyand in the reid Ib. II 122/29.
The reid of Callice 1585 Prot. Bk. J. Scott MS 1b/1.
The embassatoris [past] to thair schippis to the eist feirye reid 1596 Dalr. I 49/25.
The citie [sc. Aberdeen] enioyes … a schip read, or hartsum hauining place Ib. II 138/5.
Than Rob. Bartan, quha in the reade lang had lyne, passis to the main sey Ib. 314/22.
He louset out of the reide … and slipit away 1601 Aberd. B. Rec. II 219. 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. (ed.) 30. 1623 Ib. in Misc. Maitl. C. II 197.
That nane buy martis fishes [etc.] … at the toun reod [v.r. reid] nor towne head of Kirkwall 1622-6 Bisset II 235/24.
Theme that schippis the schip in read Ib. 245/27.
It may be that ane schip layd anker at reid or hevin 1655 Lamont Diary 83.
Leith Reade