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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.

Rekles, Ra(c)kles, adj. and adv. Also: reck-, reak-, rac- and -les(s)(e, -lase; roklis. [ME and e.m.E. reckelæs (Orm), rekles (Cursor M.), recles (c1400), rek(k)eless (15th c.), also rakles (Cath. Angl.; v.r. rake-), orig. northern var. of obs. recci-, recce-, reccheles, etc., OE recceléas (early recci-) and réciléas, f. OE *recce, *rēce care. Cf. MDu. roekeloos.] Reckless, in the usual senses and applications.

A. adj. 1. Of a person: Heedless, careless (in an action or in doing something). a. Acting without sufficient foresight or prudence; incautious; impetuous.Also of an animal, and in fig. context.Also, once, absol. as noun.predic. (1) c1420 Wynt. v 514.
This empryowre … wes In all his dedys full rekles a1500 Sir Eger 1258.
In some things he was rackles c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 14/58.
[When one] is rekles in his governance, … That man is abill to fall ane gret mischance 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3132.
Be not in spending sa rekles c1680 McWard Serm. 68.
Fearing perhaps they may be too rackless (alias too faithful) in their preaching(2) c1420 Wynt. v 4299.
Sum man … Sall call the autour to rekles a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 276.
And pwnys thame quhen thai do mys, And rekles or our wantoun is 1513 Doug. xi vi 121.
That I witles and so rakles perfay The hevynly bodeis durst with swerd assay a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 575 (L).
Thai That ar bot rakles, ȝoung and raschefig. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxviii 23.
Thoght Rigovr then be rekles rash, Ȝit Curage bydis the brashattrib. (1) 1456 Hay I 73/25.
Than suld mony licht ȝong rekles men, quhen thai wantit gude, tak bataill apon sakeles men a1568 Bann. MS 158a/33.
He is ane rekles boy in preis and in neid 1570 Sat. P. xxi 105.
This rakles Robert did report In raggit Ruffyis ryme — a1568 Bann. MS 80b/34.
It war moir trest in to thi purs Na puttit in to rakles handis(2) 1591-2 Rob Stene 15.
Be thé all rakles rammis Sall haif example so to geistabsol. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1420 (Wr.).
Ov'r rackles may repent

b. Negligent or inattentive in performing an action or task, or in executing a duty.predic. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1282.
Repentand hyme … That he had [bene] thane sa raklase That hyre name nocht had he speryt 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 4.
Gif the somoundour be our slaw rekles or defectif(2) c1515 Asl. MS I 269/4.
This Murdow was rakles in his doyngis and left gret faltis vnpvnist 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1042.
He wyll nocht excuse thyne ignorance, Geue thow be rekles in thy gouernyngattrib. 1456 Hay II 36/11.
Gif the squier that is … admyttit, be a rekles man and a wikkit, … he dois grete wrang to the ordreproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 16.
Ane rackles hussie [v.r. Racles hussies] makis monie theifis

c. Const. of (a person or thing): Careless, heedless; not giving thought to. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 290.
Gyf scho ware mare rakles of it, … scho suld rew it farly sare c1420 Wynt. iv 767.
It is myn honest det … off my self to be rekles Ib. 876.
It is gret crualte Rekles off yhoure fame to be Ib. vii 2110.
He wes to rekles off his fame

d. Const. infin.: (? Over-)impetuous; rash. 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 11.
Be nocht rakles to say sone ȝa, I wys 15.. Clar. ii 90.
This knicht … askit forgiveines That he of folie was sa rackles To fight with him

2. Of actions, conduct, words, things, etc.: Characterised or marked by lack of care, heedlessness, negligence, impetuousness, rashness, etc.; rash; thoughtless.(a) c1420 Wynt. vii 445.
Wyth a rekles schot off cas A knycht hym slwe a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. 234/19.
O rekles ȝouthe hie het and vitious c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 207/34.
Asking wald haif convenient place … But hairt abasit, but toung rekles a1568 Scott xxxiv 2.
Ȝe blindit luvaris, luke The rekles lyfe ȝe leid 1596 Dalr. I 109/33.
Ower rekles negligence in preicheng the worde of God a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 139.
Ane reckles [v.r. Rakles] youth makes ane goustlie age(b) c1475 Wall. v 455.
I haiff tynt men throw my [ouer] rakles deid a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1283 (Asl.) (see Rek v. 3 (1)). 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 21.
He rakkis nowder the rycht nor rakles report 1535 Stewart 29447.
King Donewald … Into ane bot, throw rakles mysgyding … agane the streme did strywe 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2774 (Ch.).
Thay will burne men now for rakles words 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 178 (G).
Thair vnbrydlit deformatione, proude pratling, and rakles railling 1600 Crim. Trials II 282.
Be very var vith his raklese toyis of Padoa 1602 Colville Paraenese 9.
In such rakles confusion can be … no sautie bot schipurak 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
The reason of this racklesse assertion I could neuer read c1610 Melville Mem. 307.
That nane suld neid to fear that he wald commit any errour or racles turn 1612 Prot. Bk. W. Leslie 23b.
Anent the … alledgit rakles bluid drawing [etc.](c) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 439.
Through reakles schuttyng of one gret cannoun, … deith … did hym deuore 1604-31 Craig ii 67.
To repent The reakles rashnes of thy bad decreit

3. Not foreseen or guarded against; resulting from negligence or lack of precaution. b. Accidental.Cf. Rekles(s)ly adv. 2. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 43.
Bewrie … Quhat mirth ȝe fand in maryage … Reveill gif ȝe rewit that rakles conditioun 1523 Dundee B. Ct. I fol. 141 (27 April).
Schir Jhone Curmanno cheplane persewit Jhone Quhittone Jhon Gagy Patre Baxter for the roklis byrnyng of ane bakhous 1567 Sat. P. iv 27.
Quhilk now is cause of my rakles ruyne 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 27.
Quhen seiknes or sum vther rekles aventure or excesse of travell sould cut him of without childrene 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 163/1.
Becaus it procedit nowther of … invy nor malice precedand … bot of plane raklesnes … that sik slauchteris rakles ar be the law of God dispensit with

B. adv. Recklessly. = Rekles(s)ly adv. c1475 Wall. viii 270.
Than ane Mawthland rakles [1570 reklesly] betwix thaim past a1500 K. Hart 923.
He gart me ryn full rakles … At ball and boull c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 248.
I saw part of nichtbouris about, Rekles ryding in bed erandis