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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RUISE, v., n. Also ruse (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis) rüse (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), ruze, ruz (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.), röse (Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 219), röze (Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Iktober 4)), ruize (Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 30; Ork. 1929 Marw.), ruiss, ruice, reuse (Ork.), roos(e), rooze (Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 72), rouse, rowse (Rnf. 1815 W. Finlayson Rhymes 106), erron. ross (Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 106); and n.Sc. forms reese, reeze, reise (Bnff. 1903 Banffshire Jnl. (3 March) 6). Dim. forms rusie, ruzie (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.). [I., m. and s.Sc. v. rø:z, re:z, n. røs, res, n.Sc. ri:z]

I. v. To praise, to extol, esp. to bestow exaggerated praise, to flatter (I. and n.Sc., Kcb. 1968). Also with out or up. Vbl.n., ppl.adj. ruising, rousing, roozing, roosing, praising, boasting.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 36, 210:
A great ruser was never a good rider. . . . If it be ill, it is as ill rused.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 21:
With pleasing Words to guide and ruse the Fair.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 107:
In kittle words to gar you roose Their want o' skill.Ayr. 1786 Burns Ded. to G. Hamilton i.:
To roose you up, an' ca' you guid.Abd. 1787 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 24:
There's nane that reads them far nor near But reezes Robie.Sc. 1813 The Scotchman 8:
Things for whilk Mr Lancaster has been meikle ruist.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxvii.:
Let ilka ane roose the ford as they find it.n.Sc. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads II. 70:
There fell a roosing them amang.Ags. 1833 J. S. Sands Poet. Effusions 88:
That was a shot amang a thousand — Ye'll pardon me, I'm sure, for rusand.Kcb. 1901 R. D. Trotter Gall. Gossip 137:
John skime't at Jean, an rooz't her gude looks.Ork. 1904 W. T. Dennison Orcadian Sk. 13:
He wus a terrible hand for reusin a' t'ing belangan' tae the Sooth.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 15:
Never huivvin ti ruize Jethart high.Cai. 1932 John o' Groat Jnl. (4 Nov.):
He wis reezin' ma twa gran' fat gauties.Abd. 1948 Abd. Press & Jnl. (8 June):
We jist reez'd auld Dizzy and said Gladstone was a coorse hurb.Abd. 1995 Sheena Blackhall Lament for the Raj 4:
Reezed oot bi his fiers
The general tosses back his heid an lauchs.
A toozle o skyrie feathers
Dunts doon before the hooves.

II. n. Praise, commendation, flattery (Cai., ne.Sc. 1968, reeze); boasting. Phr. to make (a) (tuim) ruise, to bestow (empty) praise or flattery.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 28:
We'll mak na mair toom ruse.Ayr. 1789 Burns Kirk's Alarm x.:
Jamy Goose, Jamy Goose, Ye ha'e made but toom roose.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail lvii.:
I dinna like to make a roos o' mysel.Rnf. 1862 A. McGilvray Poems 162:
'Bout leaving the Kirk though they made a great ruse.Kcd. 1900 Crockett Stickit Minister's Wooing 140:
Making a roose of my wife, and sticking at nothing to hide the shame of my house.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 9:
Monie a creestin bit wui a guid ruice o itsel.Abd. 1959 People's Jnl. (25 July):
A bittie pigeon breistet kin' wi' sae muckle reeze.