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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.

Riot, Ryot(t, n. Also: ryote, ryet(t, riat, ryat(te; rayot(e. [ME and e.m.E. riote (Ancr. R.), riot (Cursor M.), ryette (a1450), also (14th-15th c.) reot, reaut, OF riote, riotte fem. (1138 in Greimas), riot masc., debate, dispute, quarrel, etc., of unknown origin. See also Royet n.]

I. 1. a. Depredation; disturbance caused by incursion. 1375 Barb. xvii 510.
To pas in Ingland and … gret ryote thar to ma c1420 Wynt. viii 6330 (C).
Withe the cuntre Na ref na na ryote made he Ib. 6959 (R).
The trwys he pressyd hym fast till hald; The qwhethir offt ryot wald thai ma To pryk and poynd bathe to and fra — c1420 Wynt. iv 1673.
He … All throucht the land in ryot rad

b. A dispute. c1420 Wynt. vi 1147.
Gret ryotis … Fell in till this Benetis days

c. A violent confrontation; an outbreak of strife. c1420 Wynt. viii 6331.
A gret ryot ras Betwene hym and men off that cuntré Ib. 6354.
Wyntownys were thai oysyd all That ilke ryot for to call Ib. vii 2584. 1456 Hay I 245/12.
For men may ger a knave move a ryote or a noyse

2. Commotion; tumult; violent disorder. 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 72.
Gif thar happynnis ony discorde or riot amang thair men [etc.] Ib.
Gif ony … makis ony riot debate or distroubillance within the cuntre … aythir of the saide lordis sal … ger sic rebellioun ryot ande disobesance be restrenȝeit and stanchit c1420 Wynt. v 2182.
This Decius had … Wyth-in that cyte tan herbery, For dowt off ryot or rywery 1598 Acts IV 178/1.
Euerie ane of the saidis counsallouris … sall haif frie poware … vpoun the interveining of ony trubill or ryot to … charge the doaris tharof to [etc.] 1613 Conv. Burghs II 429.
Giff any of the merchants … vse any incivile behauiour or ryote, or be any way vndecent [etc.] 1627 Glasgow B. Rec. I 359.
Sik as beis imprissonet for capitall crymes, truble, molestatioun or ryett done within the said burghe 1631 Misc. Spald. C. II 226.
The constable is supreame iudge in all materis of ryot disordour bloode and slaughter committed within four myllis of the kingis persone 1631 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 231.
Twa yong lasses … accusit for using ryot that nicht 1672 Douglas Corr. 270.
Except there had beene ryott or contest towards the troubling of the publike peace 1682 Melrose Reg. Rec. III 4.
The saids defenders … did asault the persewer … quherthrow the saids defenders are guilty of most hineous ryot 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 173.
In ane actione and caus of oppressione, violence or ryott intented befor the Lords

3. An instance of violent disorder; a breach of the peace. Also fig.Usu. involving physical violence, but sometimes appar. only verbal in nature.(1) 1605 Crim. Trials II 462.
The said Johnne Broune … is convict on ane manifest ryote, for the wrangus invaiding, trubilling and molesting of the defender 1606 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 86.
A very great insolence and ryott committit be Mynto and a nowmer of the commouns of the toun 1608 Reg. Privy C. VIII 501.
That ryott [Crim. Trials III 05 royat] of Drumfreis 1609 Kinghorn Kirk S. 14.
William Newin and Patrik Key … did fall out in ane wyld ryot be way of flytting 1619 Crim. Trials III 467.
It is na capitall cryme bot any ryote, the tryell quhairof pertenis to the counsell a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 182. 1640 Hawick Ann. 44.
Whatsomever person that committs ryottis in giving of dry cuffis and straikis [etc.] 1646 Moray Synod 102.
For a ryote committed be him in threatening Mr. Patrick Dunbar, minister, in face of session 1650 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 871.
He comes in the tounes will for any strok or ryott was committit be him 1663 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 205. 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 144.
The forsaids persons have comitted ane manifest high and open ryot and malisious oppresione 1686 Mackenzie Observ. 84. 1694 Orkney Antiq. Soc. III 67.
[Fined for] a mutuall batterie and ryot 1703 Misc. Spald. C. II xcix.
The Lord Belheaven and Sir Alexander Ogilvie … committed a disorder and ryott by using opprobrious language and beating one another, within the Parlament hall(b) 1606 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 85.
Ryett 1611 Lothian Dioc. Synod 109.
Anent ordor taking with the sclander and ryet comitit in the kirk of Dunce 1670 Inverness Rec. II 243.
Quhat … punishment may follow wpon such a grosse and hyenous insolencie and ryett(c) 1622 Inverness Rec. II 160.
Accusit … for the ryat committit be him this day 1644 Misc. Maitl. C. II 216.(d) 1657 Balfour Ann. III 31.
Anent the alledget rayote done by Atkenfig. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 474.
For and ȝe do (quod Confort) but debait Agane Venus rais ony rank riat In time to cum(2) 1622 Inverness Rec. II 161.
Decernit to pay fyve pundis money for hir ryat 1659 S. Ronaldshay 29.
[He was ordered … for] his ryote [to be cited before the Justices] 1681 Inverness Rec. II 288.
And punish the said deliquent for his gross ryot

b. (An) action at law for riot or breach of the peace. 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII 75.
Ryott: Mathew Stewart against Johne For[s]yth. Diligence in the proces of ryott 1611 Crim. Trials III 214.
It is allegit be the pannell that the taking of ane man is nocht capitall, bot is only persewit as ane ryote befoir the counsell 1613 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 61.
Remitting the ryot to the judge 1673 Argyll Justic. Rec. I 30.
Quhilk dittay being found relevant as to a ryot in respect of … his getting of the said horse and kow and selling of them, the saids pannells wes putt to the tryall 1678 Fountainhall Decis. I 16.
In the riot pursued by Menzies … against Thomson of Arduthie 1682 Ib. 183.
The riot betwixt James Graeme … and James Somervil … was called 1686 R. Brown Paisley I 92.
That he may be liable for a riot to them for cost and damage

c. ? Conduct that is detrimental to public order and good government. 1646 Glasgow B. Rec. II 104.
Whither the usurperis in contempt of state and kirk sall bruik the office quhairin they have intruded themselfis whose insolencie and ryat against the auctoritie of parliament and ecclesiastick judicatories [etc.]

4. (A) verbal or, chiefly, a physical assault (up)on (to, in, aganis) (a person); insulting or abusive behaviour; a violent attack.Chiefly in the east and south-east.Cf. e.m.E. (once, 1568) to make a riot vpon (Jews).(1) 1621 Peebles Gleanings 57.
Convict of ane ryett upon Clerie 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II 4.
John Hoipe … comes in will for ryott committit be him upon Robert Ewmond 1653 Ib. 7.
Accusit for ryot done be him upon John Plenderleith [etc.] … in abuseing and threatening the saids James [etc.] … and railling against the said baillie 1666 Dumfries Doc. Petition No. 15.
[A] ryot [committed upon Jon Lanrik] eftir he had drawin a whinger to me and almost killed me tharwith 1668 Rec. of Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. V 138.
The ryott leatlie comitted vpon … [the] minister at Eist Callder 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 19 Nov.
For batteirie and ryott committit be him vpon William Richardsone 1682 Rec. of Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VIII 130.
The rayot committed vpon the minister in the parich of Dron 1694 Peebles B. Rec. II 149.
Accused for ryot on James Robiesone — 1657 Stitchill Baron Ct. 10.
Unlawed in fourty shillings for ryot and straickes committed be thaim vpon Margaret Dicksone 1664 Ib. 31.
The judge … unlawed and amerciat … Edward for a ryot and straicks in fyve punds Scots Ib.
Robert Lillie [etc.] … fand … guilty of straicks and ryot ilke ane upon uthers(2) 1622 Inverness Rec. II 161.
For his ryat committit be him to the tounis thesaurer 1622 Melrose P. II 480.
The holl of the committeris … off the ryatte done to Muchall(3) 1638 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 141.
The ryot committit be Thomas … Turnor in the persone of Janet Adasone(4) 1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 99.
The ryot committed be … Patrik Leslie, lait provest, … aganis Mr. John Sandilands

II. 5. Wasteful or extravagant living; unrestrained mirth; revelry. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1345.
On the riche riuer of Rone ryot thai maid a1500 K. Hart 567.
Thow bird think schame and of thy riot rew 1513 Doug. ii iv 95.
We … fest and ryot maid Throu owt the town Ib. iv Prol. 159.
Lat ws in ryot leif, in sport and gam Ib. ix vi 63.
That all the fornycht in ryot and in play Had spendyt Ib. xiii ix 112, etc.
Thai fut it so that lang war to devys … Thar morysis and syk ryot, quhil neir day 1600 Elgin Rec. II 85.
Sonday … to be a day of fast and sic as beis deprehendit in surfet and ryot to be puneist c1650 Spalding I 339.
Vtheruayes thay [sc. soldiers] wold sit doun in honest menis houssis and leive vpone there meinis in ryot

b. An instance of noisy or unrestrained revel. 1622 Elgin Rec. II 176.
Dansing, guysing and all uther forbidden ryotis

III. 6. To play the ryote, to behave in a disorderly or extravagant manner; to live in a wanton or unrestrained manner. 1558-66 Knox II 315.
This wynter, the Erle Bothwell [etc.] … played the ryote in Edinburgh, mysordoured the hoill toune [etc.] 1600 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 304.
Except we wald haif giffing gritter rent and landis to you nor our power mycht extend to; and that onlie to your selffis to play the ryote Ib.
And yit God … has obtenit ane ressonabill leving to you … quhilk we culd nocht haif done … gif we had playit the ryote, as ye wald