Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1880-1956
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RAVSAY, adj. Also ravs(e)y; rafsie; rivsie. Unkempt, dishevelled, rough, slovenly (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1967, rivsie).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 105:
Wi' loosie heid an' rafsae hair.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 221:
Weel, min, sheu waas bigged bi a ravsay chield dey caa'd Patie o' Roulan'.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 141:
A whole host o' men, a' gaan dressed i' tartant kilts, as ravsey a lok as you wad wish tae meet.
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"Ravsay adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ravsay>
