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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.

Refre(s)ch(e, v. Also: ra- and -fres(s)h(e, -fres, -fresc-; -feresch(e; -fraishe. [ME and e.m.E. refresshe(n (Chaucer), -fressche(n (1398), -fresch(e, OF refrescher, -ier, refraischer (12th c.) or refreschir; OF also rafreschir, rafraischir (12th c.).]

1. tr. To impart fresh strength or energy to (a person or animal, (part of) a living body, a mind or spirit, etc., that is exhausted through exertion or privation); to provide with (the means of) refreshment; to reinvigorate. Also reflex.In passive, as in ME and e.m.E., without specification of agent.Also in fig. context.Chiefly of a person, also of a thing.active (1) 1375 Barb. xiii 614.
The erll Patrik … gert with met and drink alsua Refresche thame weill c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1418 (D).
He thaim refreschit [C. refresshed] with gud mete a1500 Rois Garlandis 473.
Quhom thou … refreschit with thy sueit virgin mylk 1533 Bell. Livy I 22/24.
He swam oure the said ryver with his beistis, to refresch thame with the battill gers thareof 1533 Bell. Livy II 289 (B.M.).
The Roman armyis … refreschit thair bodyis with mete and sleip(2) 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 5317.
And thare he baid refreschand his cumpaney ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 227.
The angell come with meit, and refreschit … him 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1136.
Thame to repois, thair hors refresche and rest, Alichtit doun thir musis c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xi 28.
All ye that trauales … I sal refresch [L. reficiam] you 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4984.
Gif ony man his bodie wald refresche, … thairwith he micht him wesche 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 70. 1641 Wemyss in Sc. Diaries 124.
He did leay doune … and refreshed his men(3) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 695.
He wald full fane haue refreschit his bak 1567 G. Ball. 76.
Ane ox, ane asse, rycht tenderlie Refrescheit His humanitie 1587-99 Hume 30/148.
Sume likes … London beare The bodie to refresh 1600-1610 Melvill 75.
Mr. Thomas was verie wacryff … and skarslie tuk tyme to refreche nature(4) c1420 Ratis R. 570.
& bailful brest That discomfort has maid al mate, Scho can refres and bring to state 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 887.
Quhilk speiche refreschit my perplexitie 1567 G. Ball. 150.
Cum vnto me, … I sall ȝour saulis refresche c1590 Fowler II 28/32.
His scabrous compend … did in weary affternoins refresch vs(b) 1600-1610 Melvill 271.
For to refraishe the mynd a meakles marrow(5) a1400 Leg. S. xxii 472.
Now thu ma se That thi fel fyre refreschis me 1456 Hay II 138/6.
Water … rynnis throu the condytis of the body and refreschis the condicioun and complexioun of men 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 78.
Thy mirth refreschis byrdis in thair nestis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 576.
Of Phebus the plesant resplendour Refreschit him fra part of displesancepassive 1375 Barb. xiv 132.
All the folk of thar host war Refreschit weill ane owk or mair a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 583.
He … wes refreschit … As in a bath he had bene c1420 Wynt. iii 462 (C).
The boye … He reqwerit … Til a pillar leid hym thar, Qwhar that he refreschit ware 1456 Hay I 251/3.
Thai war refreschit with bathe mete and drink a1500 Seven S. 316.
The frut … had sic a grace That all the cite refreschit was 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9798. a1568 Norvall Bann. MS 20a/21.
Cum vnto Me … refrescit to be a1578 Pitsc. II 11/8.
Thay remanit still … quhill thay gat thair arteilȝerie landit and thair men refreschit and in ordourfig. 1562-3 Winȝet II 12/32.
The peple … entering vnhappelie to be refreschit in the cumpanie of thir neu techearis

b. Of water: To impart freshness to (vegetation); to make fresher. — 1528 Lynd. Dreme 825.
The fresche fontanis, quhose holesum cristel strandis Refreschis so the [fair] fluriste grene medis

2. reflex. To refresh (oneself) by partaking of food or drink, indulging in outdoor activity or exercise, etc.; to recreate (oneself). Also absol. (or intr.).(a) ?1438 Alex. ii 4887.
With watter that was freche and fyne He gart refresche him c1420 Wynt. iv 757.
That yhe … drawis youe till yhone hill … Youe to refresche and ta the ayre 1456 Hay II 5/36.
Fair fruytis … , the quhilkis he … held to refresche him with be tymes Id. Alex. (S.T.S.) 3986.
The ost refereschit thame thare al the nicht 1513 Doug. i iv 95. 1531 Bell. Boece I 26.
Quhen the Scottis had refreschit thaim with hunting and othir exercitionis 1599 Maxwell Mem. II 44.
Libertie to refreshe them selues 1600-1610 Melvill 699.
Our custome is … to refresche our selffis … with cairdis and uthir games after mailis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxv 292.
That mornyng Julyane was Gane to the feld hym to refres a1568 Scott ii 83.
Thay raikit baith to rest, Thame to refres with thair disioneabsol. or intr. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8341.
Than to refresche, I recreat my spreit

3. tr. a. To restore or renovate (a building). b. To restore (a thing) to a fresh, bright or vigorous condition.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxii 531.
A prest … Thocht he wald a kyrk refresch, … The quhilk sic ned had of mending, That it was nere the done-cummyng 1468 Newburgh B. Ct. 34a.
The hows to be rafressit agane & rastoryth in the same chynde that he fand yt inb. c1420 Ratis R. 571.
Scho can refresch a sary thing And mak with wyt recomfortinge 1533 Bell. Livy I 239/7.
Fra thare strenth and aynd was a litil refreschit, thai past fordwart with gude will

4. a. To furnish (a person) with what is needed to restore his situation. b. To furnish (an army) with reinforcements; to reinforce.a. 1416 James I in Red Bk. Menteith I 287.
We pray yow … len us a certain portioun of your propir gudis … Gif ye can not find to refresh us in this mister … we chairge yow [etc.]b. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 196.
I may refresch yow with folk, to feght gif you nedis 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 251.
The Lord Gray … intendis to send part of lycht hors to refresche the toun

5. To renew; to begin, or cause to begin, afresh; to revive. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 650.
His nychtlie pane … Thai euer refreschit with new torment [a]gane 1533 Bell. Livy II 104/21.
The turmis … refreschit the batell in all partis c1590 Fowler II 53/32.
That … tha things quhilk he teachit … micht be refreschit in thair harts