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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.

Rinnar, Runner, n. Also: rynnar, -er, -our; riner; Renir. [Late ME rynnar (c1400), also rener (Cursor M.), e.m.E. runner (1548), also ronner (1533); Rin v.¹ Cf. ON rennari, Fris. rinner, rinder.]

1. Rynnar about, one who travels constantly between one place and another; a vagrant. Also, runner of the country.(1) 1449 Acts II 36/1.
Gif thar be ony that makis thaim fulis that ar nocht bardis or sic lik vtheris rynnaris aboute 1574 Ib. III 86/2. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 135b.
Feinȝied fooles, bairdis, r[y]nners about, … may be hanged(2) 1695 Berw. Nat. C. XXXIII 4.
That non of the tread shall … buy skins from aney roupers or runners of the country

2. a. As the second element of a compound, in sense 1 above. b. A vagabond.a. c1508 Ch. & M. Prints iib 39 (see Rome-rinnar n.).
Rome rynnarb. 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 140.
The said Hendrie calling the said Robert ane scheip theiff and the uther calling him ane rynnar, without ony liklines or probatioun

3. A messenger, courier or errand-bearer;? a scout. Also attrib.(a) 1490 Lanark B. Rec. 7.
To a rynnar of the chawmerlan 1494 Loutfut MS 18b.
He that first bure thaim [sc. hares] in armes wes a rynnar & scurrour of land and bad nocht his enemys 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 262.
To Finlay, rynnar, to by him sarkis Ib. 330.
To ane rynnar to pas to Culrose 1512 Ib. 344.
To ane Ersche rynnar to feche ane wricht out of Arrane 1515–16 Ib. V 72.
Rynnour(b) 1603 (1490) Prestis of Peblis 506 (Ch.).
Runners twa or thrie Sum of the Court and sum of the kitcheneattrib. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 339.
To ane rynnar man to pase to the Constabill of Striveling 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 232.
[His] rinnar boy

b. A competitor in a foot-race. c1590 Fowler I 45/224.
Who far abowe the rest Of all that troupe of lowers wer and wretched rinners best a1599 Rollock Wks. I 411.
Ane runner … stryving till he cum to the mark

4. ? One who rides a horse in a race; ? the owner of a race-horse; one whose job it is to ride a horse. 1532–3 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 129.
Joke Helm and Alane Mithag contendand in plane court for hors ryning put aluterly all thair causis upone Thome Hesloip to say efter his greit aytht how the condicioun vas finely compromitit betueix all the rynnaris of hors 1606 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 116.
John Ogiluy, hors rynner

b. (A) rinnar of the spere, a participant in the sport of tilting (? or jousting). a1578 Pitsc. I 232/16.
The harrottis blasonitt him to be the best justar and rynnar of the speir in the realme Ib. 243/22.
Riner

5. One who sells wine or beer from a barrell or the like in small quantities for consumption; a retailer of liquor; a tapster. 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 227.
Ventaris and rynnaris of wynis 1605 Paisley B. Rec. 280.
The taverners and rynners of wyne … sall sell the wyne na derar … nor sax schillingis viij d. the pynt 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 508.
The ventennar and rynnar of the said beir micht accordinglie sell the same 1613 Ib. 553.
All … ventennaris and rynnaris of wyne

6. The overflow of an enclosed water; a streamlet. Cf. Rin n.(a) 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. in Prot. Bk. M. Carruthers 9.
The rynnar fra the well 1578 Reg. Great S. 783/1.
Ascending the gait quhilk ledis to Montrois our the rynner 1588 Lanark B. Rec. 93.
Passand doun … to the rinner at the Cobhillhauch 1595 Bamff Chart. 141.
As the said strype and rinner of watter rinis to the Dokkand wall(b) 1565 Bamff Chart. 99.
Quhair ane stryp or runner … enters in the said burn 1707 Laing Chart. 701.
The runner from the milndamhead to the milnhole miln

7. ? Some utensil, or device, made use of in the kitchen.Cf. late ME (c1460) and obs. e.m.E. renner (once, 1513) a strainer, also b below. 1516 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS 418/2.
A irne brander, twa rynnars, a irne chimney

b. A device, such as a ring, to help to support a curtain and to make it easy to draw. 1566 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 100.
Ane stand bed … with rodis and rynnaris … ane fettgange

c. ? A rope to tether a horse, while allowing it some freedom of movement; ? a halter. 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 504.
[He reft the] said horsis brankis, rynner and sweill thairof [etc.]

8. The upper millstone of a mill, as opposed to the nether one, or Lyar n. 2, q.v. for a further instance. 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I 136.
Ane … lyar of nyne ynsche with ane thyn rynnar of twa ynsches thik Ferg. a1598 Prov. MS No. 215.
Ane bed stone wil weir two rinneris [ed. Einneris] 1623 Prot. Bk. J. Scott MS loose leaf.
They estimate … the rynner [of the mill] to fourtie s. 1635 Dumfries & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. III 316.
To the said William Wright … for ridding of the troch and rinner of the mylne

9. The weight of a clock. 1706 Stirling B. Rec. II 107.
Duncan only receaved ane part of the said old clock … and as yet wantis six stoupis and some runneris [or] … at least six stone of yrone

10. A ‘rib’ of meat.‘The slice across the forepart of the carcase under the breast’ (SND, s.v. Rin v. B 1 (6) (i) (c)). 1688 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 275.
Boutcher flesh … the lyar peeces and rinners, 1 s. 8 d. Ib. 276 (see Lyar n. 4).