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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

REEL-RALL, adj., adv., n., v. Also -ra(a)l, -rawl; reel-ma-rall; and irreg. variant ree-ra(w) (Uls.). [′ril-′rɑl]

I. adj. In a confused, disorganised state, higgledy-piggledy; of persons: muddle-headed, harum-scarum, riotous (Sc. 1880 Jam.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; n. and m.Sc. 1968).Per. 1802 S. Kerr Poems 49:
Th'unmeanin, reel ral, backward page.Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. De Bruce II. viii.:
T' the Warld's-end close, in Edinburgh yonder, ye are a' reel-raal through ither.Uls. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 31:
Countless reera clatterin' jades.Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 149:
Scotch, Irish, Gaelic, a' reel-ral.Dmf. 1874 R. Reid Moorland Rhymes 7:
Wi' its hooses reel-rall, keekin' oot at ilk turn.Kcb. 1899 Gallovidian IV. 152:
A reel-rall, through-ither performance.wm.Sc. 1903 S. Macplowter Mrs. McGraw 112:
He wis a rael reel-rall chappie, wi' glesses an' a gold ring whan he wis dresst.Arg. 1918 N. Munro Jaunty Jock 215:
I'll have none of your boom-boom singing here to put me all reel-rall.Sc. 1923 R. MacRailt Hoolachan 32:
I'm terrible reel-rall — I mean, I'm whiles awfu' forgetfu'.Ags. 1947 Forfar Dispatch (8 Nov.):
A fel tumbled-doon, reel-rall cottage 'ee country.

II. adv. In a confused or disordered manner, higgledy-piggledy (Sc. 1808 Jam.; n. and m.Sc. 1968).Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 127:
Five Anster sutors in a steir, Rush't reel-rall owr the street.Abd. 1871 J. Milne Songs 110:
Fouk were na' coupit in mosses reel-rall.Ags. 1883 Brechin Advert. (5 June) 3:
An' the maist o' them's a' biggit reel-rall, here an' there.Kcb.⁴ 1900:
He stuck in the stobs a' reel-ral.wm.Sc. a.1930 N. Munro Looker-on (1933) 214:
Things the day are gaun a' reel-rall wi' me!Ags. 1945 S. A. Duncan Chronicles 41:
I juist played the cairds reel-rall.

III. n. A state of confusion, a muddle of objects, sounds, etc., a chaos, jumbled sequence, turmoil (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 141; Sc. 1880 Jam.; Uls. 1953 Traynor, ree-raw; ne.Sc., Lth., Lnk., Ayr. 1968). Also attrib. Deriv. reel-rally, staggering from drink (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).Sc. 1797 Atholl MSS.:
Some people think a Militia would bring all parts of the Country equally forward but from the observations I have made I should dread the reel-rall their draughting would occasion at this time.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxiv.:
A' that I could catch was a confused reel-rall o' words.Sc. c.1925 R. Thomas Sandie McWhustler's Waddin' 72:
Deed it's a perfeck disgrace; jist a reel-rall nae less.Abd. 1957 Bon-Accord (19 Dec.) 7:
Jist a reel-ma-rall an' a mummle o' naething ava.Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 5:
an in amangst it
the stuschie
the cullieschangie
the reel-rall
rummle-tummle
ramress o a fecht

IV. v. To move, walk or work in a confused manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 141; wm.Sc. 1880 Jam.). Ppl.adjs. reel-rall't, reel-rallin, vbl.n. reel-rallin (Ib.).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 141:
They wir a' reel-rallin i' the fleer.