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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Rane, Raine, n. Also: ran; rayne; reane. [Only Sc., of unknown origin. Cf. Gael. rann, OIr. rann quatrain, verse or stanza. Cf. also Rame n. and v.]

1. In a rane, continuously, ceaselessly.In the quot. f. Howlat, perh. with the additional connotation of meaninglessness, after 2 below. a1400 Legends of the Saints iii 989.
Bot ay the bischope in a rane [pr. arane] Beheld hyr bewte, and nocht fane a1400 Ib. xxxix 251.
He … cryit ay in til a rane [: Damyane] c1450-2 Howlat 45 (A).
[The Howlat] Rolpit … in a rude rane 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3176.
Euer spendand in ane rane, Quhill all that he hes is quyte gane 1560 Ib. 7989.
Quhair suld be rest, thay rattill ay in a rane a1570-86 Dunb. Maitland Folio MS 289/7.
A fule … Cryis gif me gif me in till a rane a1605 Montg. Flyt. 521 (T).
The ky … rairing ran rid wood, rowtand in a rane [H. raine, 1629 reane]

2. A long string of words, a more or less meaningless utterance, a rigmarole; a prolonged cry. c1420 Wynt. ii 883.
Swa suld I dulle hale yhoure delyte, And yhe sulde call it bot a rane [ed. arane] c1420 Ib. viii Prol. 24.
Sa that the fors al of my dyt In til a lumpe to be our-tane And to be defamyt as a rayne c1420 Ratis Raving 244.
To tell thé al how mycht befall, To lang a ran men wald it call c1450-2 Howlat 794 (A).
Sa come the ruke with a rerd and a rane roch 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 132 (L).
Thow barrant wyt … Schaw now thy beggit termis mare than thryis, Schaw now thy ranys 1513 Id. Æn. viii Prol. 66.
The ralȝear raknys na wordis, bot ratlis furth ranys, Full rude and royt ressons baith roundalis and ryme a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS 241/34.
This is our auld a rayne [: gane, wane]