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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.

Reisk, Resk(e, Risk, n. Also: reysk(e, rysk. [Only Sc., f. Gael. riasg moor, fen, marsh, OIr. riasc morass.] Moorish or marshy ground, covered with coarse grass or sedge; unproductive land. Also attrib. and comb.(a) 1317 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 44.
Per semitam ducentem vsque Gelcaren … et abhinc per vnam reske vsque ad crucem … in via regia 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 538/2.
Quatuor acras terrarum … de Kynnard … cum pratis et le reskis earundem 1540 5th Rep. Hist. MSS 609/1.
The … merchis … begynnand at the west in the myddis of the resk betuix the landis 1552 Exch. R. XVIII 537.
Et lie Bromehill cum heidrig et resk 1555 Retours II Inq. Spec. Perth (16).
40 acris terrarum cum pratis vulgariter dictis medowes et reskes 1578 Aberd. Chart. 340.
The haill corne land … except fyve buittis in the resk(b) 1458 Liber Aberbr. 104 (see Claische n.).
Reyske 1550 Prot. Bk. R. Rollok (S.R.S.) 20.
And frathine west throwcht ane reisk and medow ane burn and strype to the side of ane [building] 1557 Prot. Bk. D. Gray 12b.
That pece of grene reisk callit the lang cruik lyand within the barony Lundy 1585 Echt-Forbes Chart. 123.
Wpwart throw the reisk to the sowthwartt as it is meithit pottit and karnett 1606 Reg. Great S. 618/2.
Cum lie mossis, mwres, grenis lie reiskis circa et inter Catboll 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II 323, 324.(c) 1553 Prot. Bk. R. Lumsdane 15.
Discendand doun the greyne rysk … to the furd of Torreva 1601 Reg. Great S. 418/2 (see Lech(e n.³ (c)). 1673 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 28 Jan.
Oued be him … Of rent for the croft 2 bolls beir 6 lib. for the riskattrib. and comb. 1595 Bamff Chart. 141.
Ane reisk bak Ib. 143.
Ane risk balk 1607 Inverurie 191.
Casting of reiskyerd

b. As a place-name element. c1460 Reg. Cupar A. I 131.
The Calffe rysk 1466 Chart. Coupar A. II 60.
Per le Ruiche Reisk c1580 Cramond Ch. Fordyce 10.
The land callit the Bischopis reysk 1587 Reg. Great S. 399/1.
The Risk of Stromemoir 1596 Ib. 194/1.
The risk callit the Scottismanis risk