Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Reul(e, Rewil(l, v. Also: reull, rewl(e, reuule, rewll; reugle; reuelle, rewell, rewile; reiwll; rule; ruil, ruyll; ruell; rull(e; rowll; revil. [ME and e.m.E. riwle(n (Ancr. R.), rewle(n (Rolle), rewele(n (c1400), rule(n (1387), roule, OF riuler, rieuler, reuler, ruler, etc. (13th c. in Greimas), L. rēgulāre to regulate.]

I. 1. tr. To control or guide (a person, also an animal); to direct or influence (a person's actions, mind, life, etc.). a. Of a non-material thing.(a) c1420 Wynt. i 888.
Moyses … the Lawe wrate Quhare wytht was rewlyt the Jowys state c1420 Ratis R. 430.
A qualyte of temperans Is ay weill reulyt with obseruans Of met and drink in gud mesour Ib. 805.
Thai … That suld reull thé with richt entent, As spretis of gud jugment 1447 Aberd. B. Rec. I 15. Hay I 222/19.
That … the feft chaplaynis sall be rewlyt and governyt … be the sight of the … counsaile c1475 Wall. vi 879.
Witt reullyt him that he did no owtrage 1503 Acts II 244/1. a1508 Want of Wyse Men 44 (A).
All ledis … [are] Noucht reulit be reson, mare than ox or asse 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1425.
Lat ressoun reule ȝour greit rankcour 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii 76.
Sen double murther markis to reule the rout ?1578 Rooseboom Sc. Staple App. 78, p. xci.
The instructionis efter the quhilk Alexander Segait salbe reullit in the effaires committet unto him 1610 Laing MSS I 123.
Gif ye will be rewillit be ressone a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1320.
Reason wald, that reasoun sould reule the congregation 1631 Justiciary Cases I 160.
That commoun consuetude and practique of this kingdome be the whilk we must be reulet(b) 1456 Hay II 26/26.
That mon be reuglit with witt ande resoun, and nocht be foly na ignoraunce(c) 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. v 18.
The faits, Quhich ruils all staits

b. Of a person.Also, once, const. infin. (cf. 10 a below).(1) c1450-2 Howlat 984 (A).
Bot thow reule the richtuis, thi rovme sall orere 1456 Hay II 19/3.
To geve us ensample … how we suld reule oure lyfing here c1475 Wall. (1570) i 12.
The hartis of pepill the Lord … may … reule, and gyde at his command 1490 Irland Mir. I 13/15.
[Priests] be thar wissdome … suld reule and gouerne all the laif 1496 Acta Conc. II 23.
That he micht haf ane curat chosin to him … to governe and reule him unto his perfyte age c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 204/7.
Als trubill nevir thy self, sone, be no tyd, Utheris to reiwll 1533 Gau 22/7.
And lat hime rewl thé al tyme in al thy warkis 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 140.
Maseris … To rewle the preis, with burneist siluer wandis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3881.
The same seuin maisters … That … baith ȝow and ȝour impire … hes reulit at thair desire 1567 Sat. P. vii 181. c1590 Fowler I 61/107.
Yit she … so rewled and ranged my will, That [etc.] 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 32/4.
By his lyuelie uorde to instructe & reule the haill kirke militant till the ende of the uarlde a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1159.
Rewl yowth weel & eild wil rewl the self 1633 Johnston Diary I 56.(b) 15.. Wyf Awcht. 23.
Sa ȝe will rowll baith kavis & ky And all the hous(2) 1631 Justiciary Cases I 189.
If God by his grace had not rewled and directed the heart of our gracious soverane to proceid in the bussines with gritter woosdome

c. Of a planet. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 149.
The seuin planetis … Quhilk hes power … To reull and steir be their greit influence Wedder and wind [etc.]

d. In passive, with omission of agent.To be reulit, to accept guidance; to be reasonable or sensible.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 3534.
In fycht Quhen that men rewlyd ar noucht rycht, Men sall it noucht welle mend agayne 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 24.
That … all placis of the … town … be in lykwys rewlit anent the stoping of hedrowmes and casting of souchis 1528 Lynd. Dreme 898.
Bot the gude hird … Doith so, that all his flokis ar rewlit rycht 1540 Id. Sat. 1046 (Ch.).
Let not the fault be left into the head, Then sall the members reulit be at richt 1564 Perth B. Ct. 157 (20 Sept.).
Andro Murray … said planlie he wald nocht be rewlit within him na maner of way c1590 J. Stewart 31/36.
Bayard … vald not reullit be in ryding rycht(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 38/7.
Be rewlit rycht and keip this doctring a1568 Bann. MS 87b/15.
Be patient lawlie and misericord Be rewlit so quhar evir thow go or byde

2. To hold in check, or restrain, (one's speech); to curb (one's desires). c1460 Consail Vys Man 289.
Reul thi word quhill thow art ȝonge c1490 Porteous Noblenes 63/82 (Ch. & M.).
He that can reule his mouth [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 15b/2.
Withowt the feir of God na man can … richtly rewill his corrupt nature Ib. 135a/17.
Quha rewlis weill his toung He may be comptit wyis 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 24/2.
As he can not be thocht uorthie to reule … otheris that can not reule & dantone his awin propre affections 1622 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 133 (24 April).
Ane scharp admonitioun to … rule his toung better

b. reflex. To allow (oneself) to be controlled by (be) others; to control, keep control of (oneself). c1515 Asl. MS I 208/17.
That he rewlit him all be laddis and be men of … law birth a1568 Scott iii 9.
Lat be the frennessy of luve …: wald ȝe rewill ȝow keip this regiment: Be subteill [etc.]

3. reflex. To conduct oneself, or behave, in a certain manner.Cf. 2 b above, with which there may be some overlapping. c1420 Ratis R. 1068.
I pray thé, reul thé as thai red a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1041.
Bot ilk berne … reullit thame self evin a1500 Lanc. 1518.
So thow hath thé rewlyt, that [etc.] a1500 Quare Jel. 454. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 214/1.
Ay thai reule thame so Thair drede it is to euery wicht vnknowe 1553 Glasgow Test. I 97.
That scho … ruyll hir self honestly be avis of Johne Layng c1590 Fowler II 136/31.
A new prence … can not fascon nor reul him self efter Marcus actions

4. tr. To wield (power or authority).(1) a1500 Lanc. 1969.
His minsteris that shuld the justice reull, Shuld [etc.] 1513 Doug. i vi 63.
Quhar Dido quene rewlis the empyre(2) a1568 Scott i 11.
This ȝeir sall rycht and ressone rewle the rod 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii 34.

5. To take charge or control of (an affair, procedure, etc.); to manage; to regulate, to cause to function correctly or appropriately. Also absol. or intr.(1) c1475 Wall. vi 373.
Gyff ye be he that rewllis all this thing [etc.] 1513 Doug. vi v 114.
The helmstok … Quharwith I rewlit owr cours throu the see 1533 Boece 111b.
Sua be discipline … our affaris be rewlit 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 180.
I pray Jhesu that all be weill rulyt to the weill of our pur realme c1575 Balfour Pract. 1.
How the said questioun and all uther materis siclike sould be decydit and reullit in time to cum 1584 Misc. Bann. C. I 124.
And the enemies off God and his trewth thus trywmphand and rewland all things at thair plesour c1590 J. Stewart 21/211.
Thow Roland reuls the gaine 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 74b.
Birlaw courts, the quhilks are rewled be consent of neighbours 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 113.
John … began to menage and rule the effairs of his … familie(2) 1610 Binns P. (S.R.S.) 20.
My letter of advyse … will revelie you how I revil in thir effayrris for George Bruce and me

b. tr. To take charge or care of (a material thing); to adjust, keep in good order, regulate.Freq., with a clock as object.See also Reuling vbl. n.¹ 4.(1) c1475 Wall. ix 55.
Frekis in forstame, rewllit weill thar ger Ib. x 899.
Wallace rewllyt the schip with his awin men c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 102/11.
Ȝour hienes can nocht gett ane … discreter To rewle ȝour robbis and dres the sam 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2189 (B).
Schir, will ȝe rewill this rilik weill, All haill the wyvis will kiss and kneill 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II 351.
Johne Scott … to rewle and governe the saids twa wallis 1656 Boharm Kirk S. 3 Aug.
To James Milne, card, till he sould rule the bell 14 s. till be his expenses(2) 1533 Aberd. B. Rec. I 147.
Villiam Vallace to reule, set, gid and keip thair knok 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a fol. 2b.
That the keipar of the knok … nather hald the knok abak nor haist the hour bot that he reule the same iustlie 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I 100.
For rowlling and gyding of the knok, and for lying nychtlie in the tolbuth to rewl and keip the samyne 1595 Aberd. B. Rec. II 114.
To caus mend and rewll the knok within the said Gray Freiris kirk 1599 Elgin Rec. II 71.
Lead and oyle … wherwith he may reull the knok and putt hir to the gauge [pr. gange] 1626 Banff Ann. I 55.
To reull and hald the knok in temper sufficientlie daylie in tyme comingfig. 1513 Doug. vi vii 19.
Kyng Mynos … The fatale vrne and ballance … Rewlys equaly

c. To reule the rudder (ruther), (lit.) to control or direct the steering of a ship; (fig.) to be in control of affairs or events.For further instances, see Rudder n. a fig. 1513 Doug. x v 8.
To steir hys carvell and to rewle the ruther a1570-86 Shaw Maitl. F. 385/29.
Knaw courtis and wynd hes oft sys vareit Keip weill to ȝour cours and rewle ȝour rudir a1578 Pitsc. I 8/17 (see Rudder n. a fig.).
Rullit

6. To govern (a political, etc. unit or community); to have authority or sway over; to administer.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 1359.
[To] regne and reule thaire reawté 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 736.
Realm but ressoun reulit sone will fale 1473 Acts II 104/2.
It sulde be richt eithe to reule it [sc. the realm] efter his passage a1500 Henr. Fab. 1578.
Ane prince … Quhilk … takis na labour To reule and steir the land c1475 Wall. v 1075.
A squier than rewllyt that lordschip haill a1500 Bk. Chess 55.
Thair bene … Ane tavernare & ane officere of wand To rewle the cite that bene redy bowne 1513 Doug. iv v 172.
[Jove] Quhilk rewlys at will erd, hevyn, and elyment 1533 Boece 311b.
Sanct Colm … rewlit na litill nowmer of abbayis and cellis 1547–8 Corr. M. Lorraine 218.
Gyff the incwntra war wysly rewllyt and weill gadderit to gydder 1558-66 Knox II 356.
Thou that reullis the heavin and the earth a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 79/72.
Then better micht ȝe … reull the bordour(b) 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 310.
With power … to rewil and governe his landis, rentis, possessions and gudis movable and unmovable c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 209/58.
Sum givis parrochynnis full wyd … To teiche, to rewill and to ouirsie Ib. 216/7.
Ane uthir is of land and rent So grit ane lord … That he may not it rewill nor gy 1533 Boece 134.
Swetonius … for the tyme be command of the Empriour Nero rewilling Gallia a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 446/57.
O royell roy thi realme ay rewile be rycht(2) c1420 Wynt. v 4605.
In fowrme he [sc. the Pope] rewlyd hys clergy 1456 Hay II 1/16.
Sa suld knychtis have dominacioun … apon the small peple to governe, reugle and defend thame a1500 Bk. Chess 2079.
A prince suld haue sic regiment His folk to rewll 1513 Doug. i viii 142.
Betwix a Troiane and ane Tyrriane, Na differens, all sall I rewle as ane Ib. v x 29.
For ilk menȝe A capitane walkis rewland al hys rowt 1528 Lynd. Dreme 216. 1567 Acts (1597) ii 10b. 1570 Sat. P. xviii 112.
Ȝe of him ar quyte That rewlit ȝow a1585 Maitl. Q. 26/13.
We ar sa rewlit ritche and puire That [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 83/18.
We sie the Isralitis, Athenianis [etc.] … lauchfullie rewled and thairby lang lestand(3) c1515 Asl. MS I 312/4.
This age was reulit be send patriarkistransf. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 34/57.
God send Justice this land to rewle and gyde 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxxxvi (2) 8.
The sune to reull the day … Who did apoynt

b. To reule (the or one's) rost, to ‘rule the roost’, have full authority; to dominate. See Rost n. 1554 Knox III 280.
Who, I pray you, ruled the roste in the courte all this tyme 1572 Sat. P. xxxi 148.
Quhen that strangers reuls ȝour roist, It wilbe, sure, on Scotlands coist 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 68.
We put down bishops, to our cost, Yet two or three still rul'd the rost

7. absol. or intr. To have or wield authority or sovereign power; to govern.Also, to reule our (over) a community.Also with a non-material thing as subject.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1108.
Sum for to reull, and sum to raxe and ring 1490 Irland Mir. I 11/15. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 149/105.
Quha best can rewll wald maist have governance a1538 Abell 117a.
For ane king natralie hes desire to reull and nocht be rewlit 1542 Misc. Bann. C. I 9.
So long as this miserable, wretched cardinall and his busscheps reagnethe and reulithe emonge us ther 1561 Reg. Privy S. V i 211/2.
The comptrollar of artaillierie … to rewle thairin nixt under the maister [of] artailyerie 1567 G. Ball. 43.
Princes ar repute nobilest, The quhilk rewlis moste awfullie 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 313.
The men of weir to be dischargit … and the merchands and craftis to reule and aggrie amang thameselffis a1578 Pitsc. I 77/7.
Rulle a1585 Maitl. Q. 139/98.
The trone of tryall … Is for to regne and reull aboue the rest 1614 Crim. Trials III 292.
He that wald rewle heir hes both neid of wit and manneheid 1622-6 Bisset II 199/2.
Quha rewled first on the seæ … maid seæ lawis 1632 Culross I 178.
If any of the congregation wald pretend lawful cause why these [candidate elders] may not ruell 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 62.
Reuelle(2) c1475 Wall. ii 25.
With Inglis men … Our all the toune rewlyng on thar awne wis c1610 Melville Mem. 79.
Impatient folkis ar not meit to reull ouer far and frembd contrees 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxlviii 13.
O'r all earth's ends He [sc. God] reules by night(3) 1631 Justiciary Cases I 162.
Nixt the act reules accoirding to the dispositioun of the commoun law

8. intr. a. Of a price: To be current, to prevail. b. To hold course; to go in a certain way.a. 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 11.
Till they be trewlie informed how the pryces of the said victuall rules in suche parts of the countrie Urquhart Rabelais i xxv.
The shepherds courteously intreated them to give them some for their money, as the price then ruled in the market c1680 Fountainhall in Sc. Lore 83.
The great misterie of trade … consistes in correspondence abroad and information how pryces reulesb. a1676 Guthry Mem. (1747) 32.
The … Commissioners … sent privately to him his neighbour … to bring them intelligence how matters ruled above

II. 9. tr. To bring (a person or thing) (into (in) good order or harmony).Cf. late ME reule (priests) into pouerte = to bring into a certain state by laying down a rule (once, c1449). c1460 Regim. Princ. 1 (Fairf.).
Rycht as all stryngis ar rewlyt in a harpe In an acord & tunyt all be an vth 1517 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 170.
Quhilk deykin sall be oblist … to rewle and conforme the said craft in all guid rewle and ordinance c1590 Fowler I 80/88.
Evin as it pleas the Lord … to rewll … all thingis in gude accord

10. a. To order or appoint (a person) to do something. b. To settle or decide (a controversy).a. c1475 Wall. x 318.
xxty thowsand he rewllyt be force and wit Wpon the Scottis his men for to reskewb. 1509 Buccleuch Mun. 118.
All … contrauersis … sall be rewlit and decidit be myd persouns

III. 11. a. ? To conclude (an agreement) in a regular manner. b. To set, or arrange, in order. c. ? To array. d. ? To set down in an orderly manner (or perh. an instance of 12 below).a. 1385 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 7.
And this ilke forsayde cunand … the forsayde Syr Robart … reuuleyt and afermyt in the presens of … Prynce Robartb. a1500 Rauf C. 466.
His basnet was bordourit … With stanis of beriall …, Riche rubeis in feir, Reulit full richt Ib. 670.
The rufe reulit about in reuall of reid, Rois reulit ryally, Columbyn and lely Ib. 686.
Greit squechonis on hicht … Reulit at all richt Endlang the hall c1475 Wall. x 279.
Wallace … Rewellyt speris all in a nowmyr round Ib. 300.
The king … Rewllyt his ost and baid still in thair sycht a1603 Anc. Prophecies 16.
With him an ragment of ratches rewled rightc. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 210.
Thare ladyis clenely cled And rychelye rewlit, boith at burde and bedd. 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 6 Dec.
[The] session clerk to rule lists of baptisms, marriages [etc.]

12. To mark (paper) with parallel straight lines. 1581–2 Misc. Stair Soc. I 115.
The parchement quhairupone the auld instrument is writtin is all reulit to mak the wryting keip the lynis quhilk is the caus that the lynis of the auld instrument ar sua richt 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (ed.) 192.
Thir bukis … I rewlit and wes in purpase to have first wreatin the first vearce of everilk psalme that hes ane tune