Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RAEL, adj., adv., n. Also rale; raal. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. real (Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson). See P.L.D. § 42. Hence deriv. raelly (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vii.; Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 28; Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; Abd. 1967), raley (Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) xvii.), rail(l)y (m.Lth. 1816 J. Aikman Poems 49; Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton xxvi.), relly (Abd. 1867 A. Allardyce Goodwife (1918) 11); raala (Sc. 1843 Willie Armstrong ii. iv.). [re:l]

I. adj. Of character: honest, forthright, genuine, true sterling (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Ags., Wgt. 1967). Obs. in Eng. Rare.Kcb.⁶ c.1916:
There's nae flairdie aboot that wean, he's real.

II. adv. With intensive force: very, extremely (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial. and U.S.Ayr. 1823 Galt Gathering of West 39:
Dinna ye think a jaunt to see the King would be a real fine ane?Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 24:
He'll be real wud at me for no waukenin him.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
The henwife felt, and declared it to be “rael affeckin!”Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums vi.:
He's so terrible near me, an' him dead, 'at when my times comes I'll be rale willin' to go.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle 314:
I'm rale dootfu', . . . . but we maun juist howp for the best.Abd. 1920 T. McWilliam Sc. Life 15:
He simply gave a pleased little laugh and said, “Noo, that's raal true.”Rxb. 1921 Kelso Chronicle (17 June) 2:
It was rale cheery, to get a bit letter.Cai. 1929 Scots Mag. (May) 98:
Fine ye ken, Dolina, a' like ye rale weel.Gsw. 1933 F. Niven Mrs. Barry 73:
“I'm all alone to-day,” said Mrs. Kinnaird. “The girls are out. We can have a rale guid crack.”

¶III. n. Reality. Nonce.Dmf. 1878 R. Thom Jock o' the Knowe 25:
Your courtly manners come fu' aft Frae feeding weel an' sleeping saft, Frae the dreigh real o' wark shrinking As something base.