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

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

Ras(c)h(e, v.² Also: raische, resh. [Late north. ME rasch(e (Morte A.), and e.m.E. rassh(e (Malory), rash, ‘prob. onomatopœic’ (OED). Chiefly Sc.]

1. tr. To dash or bang (one thing aganis, (up)on, unto or to another, or things togyddir or sundrie) with force or violence; to bang or slam (a door).(1) 1549 Compl. 66/30.
The rammis raschit there heydis to gyddir(b) 1634 Kirkcaldy Presb. 77.
He … reshed hir leggs sundrie with his knees, and shamefullie lay with hir(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II 446.
Ane north wind … raschit all thair schippis sa violently on the see bankis 1567 G. Ball. 115.
He that sall thy bairnis [ed. biarnis] plaig, And rasche thair harnis aganis a craig, Is happy 1570 Sat. P. xvii 124.
We … Spyis not the rock quhairon we rashe our [ship's] syde 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 268.
Elizabeth Alexander wes convict … of the … rugging of Issobell Scott hair and rasching hir heid to ane boit side in Leith 1591-2 Rob Stene 14.
Sum raschit thair heidis vnto thar belly a1599 Rollock Wks. I 362.
And sa rasche thy heid against ane wall 1608 Reg. Privy C. VIII 46.
[They] pat violent handis in hir, rashed hir to the ground [etc.] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 239/345. 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 189.(3) 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 324.
[James Purdie] rascheit the dure [in their faces]

b. To break or smash (something) in pieces (in sundir). 1513 Doug. xii i 19.
Onabasytly raschand the schaft in sundir

c. To cast or pour (out) all at once, in a stream. a1500 K. Hart 434.
At morrowingtyde, quhen at the sone so schene Out raschit had his bemis frome the sky

2. To rash on (part of the body) upon (something), to dash forcibly against something (liable to cause pain). 1600-1610 Melvill 21.
He … rasht on his lag upon my knyff Ib. 228.
At last ane of our hors rashed on his nes upon a gevill of a hous

3. To force (a person) backwards or down; to knock down. Cf. Rus(c)h v. 1. 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 163.
[They put violent hands on the said messenger,] rashet him to the eard, [pulled the said letters from him (etc.)] 1616 Gunn Stobo Ch. 37.
Uho … raschit him to the ground 1629 Dundonald Par. Rec. 292.
John M‘Clurg hitte Robert Bowman first, and rasht him … bak in the bed

4. To thrust (a weapon) violently in, through (a person). 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 91.
[They] rascheit ane braid swerd or rapper throw his left syde 1622 Crim. Trials III 527.
Mother, ding me nocht for thair is ane preyne raschet throw my fute 1622 Glasgow Weavers 68.
Fye, ife I had beine thair, I sowld have raschet ane quhinger in him 1666 Wodrow Hist. (1828) II 56.
I shall rash my pike through your soul

5. intr. To bang or bash violently (at, (up)on, aganis something) (with a weapon).(1) ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 115.
Than drew ȝour heid to thaimwart … quhill thai gart ȝour blist heid rasche aganis the pillar 1513 Doug. x vi 133.
Doun he duschys … Quhil that hys forret raschit [Ruddim. ruschit] on the erd a1578 Pitsc. I 174/27.
He raschit rudlie at the kirk dore 1610 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 78.
Rasching [pr. rasthing] at her stare dure 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 185/669.
Her handis on other rashe apace Ib. II 80/21.
To stoppe the saile from rashing on the ray 1627 Justiciary Cases I 68.
Uith his feit maist violentlie raschat upone the said George his left leg and knie thairof and thairby brak the samyn — 1600 Acts IV 204/1.
They raschit at the dure with the ledder(2) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 219/152.
The foming seas did bullure up, the riskin airis did rash

6. To move with great force or haste; to dash or rush about. Cf. Rus(c)h v. 3 and 4.To rasch togidder, to charge each other. To raisch on, to rush onward; fig. to continue unchecked.(1) 1513 Doug. vii viii 108.
Nocht in maner of landwart folkis bargane, With hard blokkis raschand [Sm., Ruddim. ruschand] all ourane 1531 Bell. Boece I 23.
The Britonis fast raschand to harnes to resist this haisty effray 1549 Compl. 125/4.
I am maid ane slaue of my body to ryn and rashe in arrage & carraige a1599 Rollock Wks. II 629.
Strength of body, to run and ride, rash here and there(2) 1513 Doug. xii xii 47.
Syne raschit togidder with swerdis … And rowtis thik thai doublit(3) 1601 Melvill 496.
O pean! … Whils on thow raisches with thy schowrs sa rude, Ther is na reste

7. To lie down. Cf. Rus(c)h v. 5. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1317.
Rash doun Robin and rest your wowan