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.
Quotation dates: 1500, 1567-1568
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Ragman, -men, n.2 [ME raggeman, rageman, ‘a name given to the Devil, or one of the devils’ (OED; only in Piers Plowman), late ME ragmann a ragged person (c1440), e.m.E. also = a rag-gatherer, rag-dealer (1586).] Only in Ruffy Ragman, ? a name given to the Devil. See Ruffy n.1 — c1500 Rowll Cursing 131 (Bann.).
Ruffy Tasker with his flaill Sall beit thame all fra top to taill And Ruffy Ragmen [M. -man] with his taggis Sall ryfe thair sinfull saule in raggis a1568 Bannatyne MS 29b/4.
[Christ] That ransonit ws vpoun the rude Fra Ruffy Ragmen and his route
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"Ragman n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ragman_n_2>
