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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RAD, adj. Also raad; rade, red(d); rede, reed. Afraid, frightened (‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Deriv. ¶radniss, fear, fright. Arch. Used by Ross with quasi-conj. force = lest, for fear that.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 134:
He that's redd for windle Straws, should not pish in Lays.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. iii. ii.:
Friend, may your Spaeing happen soon and weel; But, faith I'm redd you've bargain'd wi' the Deil.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 32, 67:
The squire, that had his eye Upon her a' the time, reed she sud flee . . . Fear's like to fell her, reed that they sud fa', And smore her dead, afore she wan awa.Ayr. 1789 Burns 2nd Ep. to Davie iii.:
But Davie, lad, I'm red ye're glaikit; I'm tauld the Muse, ye hae negleckit.s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 325:
For you I was grown unco rad, Ye stay't sae late.Sc. c.1802 Sc. Songs (Whitelaw 1843) 206:
Na, na, quo' Kate, I winna wed, O' sic a snare I'll aye be rede.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 235:
Compared wi' them, faith, I'se be rede Ye'd meet but few caresses.s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell St. Matthew viii. 26:
An' he saith untill them, Why are ye fu' o' radniss, O ye o' little faith?Kcb. 1861 R. Quin Heather Lintie 56:
We'd na be rad o' scath frae wather Though snaw was wreathin'.Dmf.⁶ 1930:
I'm radd ye ken mair aboot yowes and sich like than yer buiks.