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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(o)us, Ryot(o)us(e, adj. Also: ryott-, riat-, ryat(t)- and -is; rayatus. [ME and e.m.E. riotouse (1340), -ous (Chaucer), OF riotos (late 12th c. in Greimas), rioteux (14th c. in Grandsaignes), f. riot Riot n. See also Royetus adj.]

1. Of a person: Difficult to deal with; stubborn, obstinate. ?1438 Alex. ii 2080.
I am wele auld and ryatus, Bot of eld it is the richt For to be crabed day and nicht 1456 Hay I 150/25.
That sum men of his company ar full of vicis, ryotous and evill thewit, the quhilkis wald distrouble all the lave c1460 Consail Vys Man 117.
Be nocht our-ryatus na crous Bot mek and lawly in his hous 1587-99 Hume 77/287.
Sum officers we se … maist blockish men, rash, riotous, and rude

b. Unrestrained in behaviour; wanton; licentious; lecherous. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 105/16.
Sum that war ryatous as rammis Ar now maid tame lyk ony lammis 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 111.
Quha revis, quha ar ryotus, quha rakles, bot tha? 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 416.
Scudlaris, insaciabill droncattis, and siclike ryottis and detestabill persons c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 431.
I salbe ay baith rank and ryotous 1593–4 Elgin Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 238.
Accusit for gysing … accompaneit with a pyper and certane utheris ryotous pepill

c. Extravagant; wasteful. 1567 G. Ball. 40.
This riche man that was sa ryatous

2. Of speech or behaviour: Uncontrolled; immoderate; licentious.(1) c1490 Porteous Noblenes 179/28 (Asl.).
Rigour dispyte & riatus tung makis allway stryf, discord and ganestanding in word and deid c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 149.
Thai … raucht the cop round … And ralȝeit lang or thai wald rest with ryatus speche Ib. 193.
He ralis and makis repet with ryatus wordis Ib. 481.(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II 297.
The vennomus custome of riotus cheir … makand his pepil tendir and effeminat 1533 Boece 58b.
Vsing unbridillit ryatus lustis … without respect to schame or honeste 1562-3 Winȝet II 82/10.
Al the warldlie and fleschelie myndit … and wtheris siklyke clerkis of ryotous and licentious lyfe, … suld be eschameit of thare parte a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 323/29.
Vse na ryatous cheir 1558-66 Knox II 362.
Especiallie avarice … excesse, ryotouse chear, banketting, immoderat dansing, and hurdome 1640 Dunferm. Ann. 306.
Thair feastening, playing, ryotous and wild living on Yulle day

b. Provocative; quarrelsome; inciting strife. 1609 Acts IV 434/2.
All persones in quhome they sall sie manifest intentioun to mak truble … by publict bearing … of pistolettis … and sic vther ryottous and swaggring behauiour

3. Of feasting or revelry, also (once) of dress: Involving undue or excessive expenditure; displaying extravagance or excess; marked by over-indulgence.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece I 176.
To induce his peple to superflew and riatus [M. ryottis] bankettis Ib. II 10.
Gevin mair til riatus [M. ryattus] surfet and glutony of thair wambe 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I 104.
Inhibiting conuoy and rayatus access of bankating the tyme of mariage 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. (M.C.) 26.
For the downeputtyng … of ryatus bancatyng at brydallis c1590 Fowler II 28/6.
I … dranke with him in deid bot sa far from ryatous surfetting and grit gluttonie as [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 40/29.(2) 1531 Bell. Boece I lxii.
In sa far as our pepill … passis thair eldaris in … riatus abulyement