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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.

Reskew, -skue, n. Also: -skewe, -scew. [ME and e.m.E. rescowe (14th c.), reskew (c1440), rescu(e; Reskew v.¹, in place of earlier rescous Reskewise n.] Rescue, or a rescue; the act of rescuing or recovering (persons, also animals, things and places) from an enemy, saving from attack, danger or destruction, in the senses of Reskew v.¹; succour, deliverance; the opportunity, or possibility, of succour.(1) c1475 Wall. iii 394.
At the reskew feile enemys has he slayne Ib. ix 456.
Gyff thai myster a reskew for to mak a1500 Bk. Chess 2075.
Quhen to the king chek in the feild is maid That is to saye … ‘Haue ȝe na reskew of sum vther knycht?’ 1513 Doug. ii ix 39.
Woundit he was, and come to seik reskew 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 116.
Abyding haisty reskew of the kingis army 1533 Boece 157b.
Gif haistelie to thame war nocht send reskewe 1535 Stewart 54156.
The captane seand that he had na reskew, … ouir the toun he gaif a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 19.
The said Sir Alexander send … to get reskew wyth all diligence c1590 J. Stewart 14/81.
The bairdit horssis mycht mak na reskew Vnto thair ryders(2) 1548 Reg. Privy S. IV 3/2.
[The] oist … ordanit to convene … for resisting of the army of Ingland that tyme to the reskew of Hadingtoun c1600 Pont in Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 50.
These quho kept the castell … came out to the reskue of the housse 1600 Acts IV 217/1.
The said Schir Thomas come to his maiesteis rescew and releif(3) 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3315.
Becaus the toun traistit reskew without Thay wald nocht ȝeld c1475 Wall. vii 1199.
Throuch the body [he] stekit him but reskew Derffly to dede 1513 Doug. x ix 10.
He … Without reskew dovn mawis with his brand 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8545.
The female … left hir bird but help or ȝit reskew c1650 Spalding I 46.
Certane Hilanderis … took away thriescoir nolt … but reskew or recoverie bak agane(4) 1533 Boece 244.
Chargeing thai suld … spede thame in reskewe of the vantgarde 1535 Stewart 28562.
Richt haistelie he suld in thair reskew Come thair c1541–2 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 27.
The men of … Northumberland … in reskew of the saidis gudis hes slayn thre or four Scottismen(5) c1475 Wall. v 835.
Hardy and hat contenyt the fell melle Skew and reskew of Scottis and Inglis als 1494 Loutfut MS 114b.
Gif a man takis his enemy prisoner … and for skew and reskew lattis him pas apon his oblising

b. Applied to a person: A saviour. c1475 Wall. i 38.
Wilȝame als, … Quhilk eftir was the reskew of Scotland