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.

Rang(e, Raing(e, Rawnge, n.¹ [North. ME range a file of persons (Cursor M.), a fire-grate (1446–7), e.m.E. raunge, raynge act of ranging, area for this (Malory), OF rang (1175 in Larousse), more rarely, renge, range (1175, 1354 in Larousse) n. fem., a line (of persons, drawn up), also renge, etc. a sword-belt (1050 in Larousse) < ranger v. Cf. Rank n.]

1. A line, file or row of persons, esp. of hunters or fighting men; a column, or detachment, of soldiers.Common in Wall.On rawnge, in file.(a) 1375 Barb. x 379 (E).
Thai on rawnge in ane route gan ga a1500 Henr. Fab. 1519.
The pepill … Syne kest ane range [Bann. raing] on raw the wod within c1475 Wall. iv 531.
Thai maid a fellon range to leid Quhar Wallace was Ib. v 33.
Schyr Garrat Herroun in the staill can abide; Schyr Jhon Butler the range he tuk him till With thre hundre Ib. viii 117.
Sone to the park Wallace a range has set 1513 Doug. iv iii 56.
Quhen that the rangis and the faid on breid Dynnys throu the gravys Ib. ix ix 58.
The wild ragyt best quham huntaris stowt Hes ombeset with thyk range all abowt 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. ii 766.
Ordine, range(b) c1475 Wall. iv 681.
The rang in haist thai rayit sone agayne Ib. viii 126.
Wallace folowed bot he wald nocht assaill. A rang to mak as than it mycht nocht waill: Our few he had Ib. ix 875.
In till a rang myselff on fut will fayr Ib. iv 640.

b. A line (of birds). — 1513 Doug. i vi 153.
Now with lang range [L. ordine longo] to lycht thai [supra twelf swannys] beyn adrest

c. A class or homogenous group (of things). — 1494 Loutfut MS 11b.
Be na resoun it [purple] suld nocht be put in range of colours

2. The action of (concerted) ranging, as in hunting. 1533 Boece 153b.
As at range of woddis or thik forestis, the beist maist strenthy and stark is sonest brocht to dede, and vtheris rad or affrayit be noyis of the range and tynchell ar skarrit

b. The action of going about a park or forest as a keeper. 1567 Reg. Privy S. V ii 361/2.
Lie range de Lowmondis de Falkland 1606 Reg. Great S. 634/1.
Cum omnibus devoriis ad dict. lie range spectantibus

3. a. The course in a tournament. = Renk n.¹ 2. 15.. Clar. v 1961.
The constabill was in the range with him

b. An enclosed area around the pulpit in a church. Cf. 16th c. Eng. ranges pl. = fence, enclosure, 18th c. Eng. range an unbroken stretch of railing, etc. — 1670 Dunblane Kirk S. in Sc. Ant. V 14.
That neither old nor young presume to sitt within the range about the pulpit except schooleres & men who has bairnes to be baptized

4. A strip. a. of stuff.Appar. sewn on to the surface of a cloth or garment to give the appearance of stripes or of contrast. 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 174.
Ane quhyt Irlande playd corsyt with blak rangis 1603 Treas. Acc. MS 283b.
Ribbonis to be raingis throw the foirsaid aprone 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII 69b.
Ane broun wylicoit with greine rangis vpon the boirdis thairof

b. Of leather. — 1616 Edinb. Test. MS XLIX 204b.
v daikeris of half rangis at xv lib. the daiker

c. A stripe or ‘vein’. — 1614 Dalyell Darker Superst. 264.
[Their] milk and butter was whyt and blew with rainges

5. ? Cf. e.m.E. range, not defined but also in a military context (1563–4 in OED, s.v. range subst. 13 a) and Rangear n. — 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 355.
iij dosane hessill rungis to be rangis to the halkbuttis