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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.

Rescours(e, -skours, n.¹ Also: ra- and -skowrs, -skors; resscours. [ME rescours (Manning), altered f. rescous Reskewise n.Perh. influenced by Recours(e n.¹, with which there was appar. some confusion. Cf. next, also Recours(e n.²]

1. The, or an, act of rescuing (a person, also a place) from danger or destruction; succour, aid; deliverance; relief. b. ? The means of succour, as supplies, reinforcements, or the like.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 863.
Wild bestis … to the wod fast with thaim ran, Forout rescourse of ony man ?1438 Alex. i 752.
But thay had belyue Rescours, sould nane be left on lyue c1420 Wynt. viii 3873.
For that he rescours [C. reskowrs] abade, Delywerans nane to thame he made Ib. 5030.
And Gylmyne … that than Held the towre … Sawe his wittalis war nere gane And hope off the rescours had henane Ib. ix 314.
Resscours 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3936.
At the nede poynt thai gat ay reskours 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 94.
Quhen King Ganus … saw na rescours, he randrit the castell 1533 Boece 623b.
Rascourse 1558-66 Knox II 59.
Thay … gaif sum rescourse to thair fallowis that fled(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 335.
Cassamus … Brocht … his barnage bald In thair rescours for to fecht 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece (M) I 329.
Hengest … brocht … fresche men … to thair rescours a1568 Bann. MS 37b/19.
This campioun kene in oure reskors did cum [etc.] 1592 Crim. Trials I ii 274.
And cruellie slaying his hienes servandis, cumand to his maiesties rescourse(3) 1533 Boece 623b.
Thus had the castell been left desert were not the governor declarit to pas … to the rescourse thairof Ib.
It was not necessar to send any support in rescourse of the said castell(4) 1375 Barb. xiii 368, 369.
And thar sall nane of Ingland To mak ȝow rescours tak on hand And but rescours may na castell Be haldyn lang Ib. xvii 901.
Thai … but tynsaill of men has maid Rescours [C. reskowrs] to thaim that … War assegyt ?1438 Alex. i 44.
The king bad … Sabilour … Pas … to mak rescours Ib. ii 2134.
That he cumis thame rescours to ma 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3512.
And ȝe vauld … bring with ȝow sum men to mak rescours [etc.]

2. The act of recovering or taking back into one's possession (something taken by force or stealth). 1567 Acts III 30/1.
Thay that ar followand theifis, in defence of steilling of leill mennis gudis, and in rescours thairof, sall not be apprehendit vnder this present act