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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.

Reveng(e, n. Also: ra- and -vendge, -wen(d)ge; -vange, -vainge; -vanche. [Reveng(e v., or F. revenge (OED), revenche, revanche (13th c. and 1525 in Larousse). Cf. e.m.E. reuenge (a1547). In Sc., rare between 1400 and 1568.]

1. The action of seef or taking revenge; satisfaction for injury inflicted sought by counteraction or retaliation.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1946.
Thai socht How to rewenge come thai mocht 1570 Leslie 14.
To seike … revenge aganis thaire neichbouris 1596 Dalr. I 105/2.
Thair ouir haistines and ouer bent to reuenge(b) 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 271.
Having the raisons I had against hym and thos advantages off revanche, mony vood a extenditt them mor vigourously nor I did(2) 1587 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 185 (18 May).
I feir nathing of my reuenge except that your hundis … ar … degenerat in macyntykis 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 576 (see Reveng(e v. 3 (1) (b)).
Revainge

b. The desire to be revenged; the gratification of this. 1600-1610 Melvill 20.
I deteast all revenge as devillrie 1649 Acts VI ii 465/1.
That no master shall for … private revenge put forth any tenant or servant in levies

2. A particular act or instance of revenge; an opportunity or occasion for vengeance (on (of) a person). ?1438 Alex. ii 10182.
He thocht to tak … Ane reuenge of his fatheris deid a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 30.
For the quhilk caus to be reuengit of them, he coft ane grit ship … and held … men of weir thairin vpon the sey, and gat sindrie revengs of them 1596 Dalr. I 148/29.
That he walde differ to seik a reuenge Ib. 283/25.
Athelstane … humlie beseikis God for a reuenge

3. Exacting of satisfaction for (of) crime, wrongdoing, injury, etc. by an act of revenge or retribution.In (the) revenge of, in return or retaliation for.(1) 1568 Buch. Indict. 47.
Sche come to the Lordis assemblit for revenge of the murtheur a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 312/107.
That thai sall tak revenge Off this wickit consait That nwreist hes debait 1570 Bann. Memor. 74.
We neuer made us to take revenge thairof be way of deid or bludshed 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I 180.
He refusit to giff hir ony [supra meill from the milwart], and for the rewenge thairof, scho … causit both the quheillis of the mill to brak 1600 Crim. Trials II 157.
He newir hard the Erll of Gowrie … speik any thing anent the mislyking or revendge of his fatheris deathe c1615 Chron. Kings 14.
Rewendge 1626 Garden
After incredible deeds and lowrs done and taken for revenge of his brothers slaughter 1626 Worthies 109.(b) 1601 Crim. Trials II 358.
Quhairwith he wes movit to mak sum mynt for revange thairof(2) 1586 Grant Chart. 160.
As gyf it war doun to himself and as the said Jhone Grant will do in the revenge thereof 1609 Crim. Trials III 66.
James Douglas … slayne be Williame Stewartt … in rewendge of Captane James slauchter 1630 Soc. Ant. LVI 51.
[He] in revenge therof raisit the devill his maister

4. a. Punishment of a wrongdoer. b. The avenging of a person.The quot. f. Henr. may properly belong to Reveng(e v. 5.a. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 294.
Ga help to reuenge I ȝow pray 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 652/2.
My twa sonis … ar myndit … to suyt the rawenge of the murtourarisb. 1570 Sat. P. xiv 79.
As … now his deith [is] plainly furthschawin, Sa sall all blyithnes be abhorde, Quhill his reuenge be alswa knawin

5. attrib. Revengeful. = Revengeabil(l adj. 1600 Crim. Trials II 297.
Hevand ane rewendge hairt for the bluid of his fader