Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Red(e)-fisch(e, Reid-fis(c)h(e, n. Also: reed-, read- and -fesch; Rid-fis(c)h(e. [Red(e adj. Only Sc. Cf. Quhit(e)-fis(c)h(e n.] a. ‘The male salmon at spawning-time when it assumes a reddish colour’ (SND, s.v. Reid adj. 1 (26) (i)). b. Salmon, generally. c. attrib. with slaer.a., b. 1457 Acts II 51/2.
Anentis rede fische it is ordanyt that quha sa beis conuickit of slauchter of rede fische in tyme forbodyn [etc.] 1466 Peebles B. Rec. I 155.
Thai … that brak red fesch to sell, the schyn [etc.] 1488 Reg. Paisley 85.
Salmonum dictorum le redfisch 1489 Acts II 221/2.
Millaris that settis crelis and nettis in dammys & ladis of watteris distroyand red fische 1503 Ib. 242/2 (see Kipper n.). 1569 Grant Chart. 137.
Reid fische 1581 Stirling Chart. 104. 1585 Reg. Privy C. III 739.
[They] sall desist and ceis … fra slaying of ony reid and blak fische 1592 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 36.
Reidfische 1594 Ib. 59.
For lennyng of his currok … to slay the reid fische 1597 Acts (1597) ii 169.
Read fish 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 313.
The slaying of smoltis, reid fisch, and uther salmond fisches in fresh watteris 1602 Argyll Acc. 28 Dec. 1611 Yester Wr. 300.
All and whole that salmon fishing and tugnet alsweill of reidfischis and scail [ed. stail] fische as of other fisches within the flowing of the sey 1665 Alyth Par. Ch. 97.
For taking of reed fish in the burn of Alight 1696 Retours I Inq. Spec. Elgin et Forres (178).
Salmonis piscatione de tugnet, tam lie reidfish quam skailfish infra fluxum maris

c. attrib. — 14.. Acts I 342/1.
All reid fische slaeris in forbodin tyme