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.
Raik, Rayk(e, n. Also: raike; (ra(c)k). [North. and midl. ME and e.m.E. rayke (?a1400), reyke (Prompt. Parv.), ON reik (Norw. dial. reik) n. strolling, wandering, related to reika Raik v.]
1. A route; a journey.To tak (one's) raik, to make one's way.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 4630.
And Crystyn men all suld he sla, That he mycht in hys rayk oure ta c1450-2 Howlat 443 (A).
The Roye Robert the Brus the rayke he awowit … to the haly graif a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 806 (L).
That hap weill, raik [W. rak-, Wr. rack] weill rynnis(2) c1420 Wynt. iii 38.
He tuke hys rayk [C. raik] to this Eglon Ib. 98.
To the dure … Scho tuk hyr rayk rycht hastyly Ib. v 3458.
2. ? A route regularly followed by (specified) feeding or pasturing animals. Hence b. Only as a place-name element: ? A feeding-ground; a pasture.c1420 Wynt. vii 916.
That land thai oysyd all The barys rayk all tyme to call 1558-66 Knox II 69.
The slauchter of many that came to the cockill-raik [MS G. cole-raik]
3. As a unit of measurement of work done: A single journey made for the purpose of transporting a commodity from one place to another.Also, transf., applied to the amount (of the commodity) that could be carried on a single journey; a load.1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 16.
Symsonis cart with thre hors thre raikis fra Abirlady 1619 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 134.
For tua raikes fra Mussilburgh to Lithgow … for transporting his warklumes 1624 Peebles B. Rec. I 412.
To bring vp the vther tua trieis with his hors and his oxine, pryce ewerie raike thretie tua s. 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 323. 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 60. 1687 Peebles B. Rec. II 119.
The toun … to give twa raik of the toun horse yeirly to help in with the cauld 1690 Ib. 135.
A raik of the toun horsses with sclaits fra Stobo to Prestounhall 1692 Foulis Acc. Bk. 149.
To my sisters men to drink for a raik with the 6 horse for coalls 1698 Ib. 232.
To my sister Drylawes man 2 horss 3 raik [£3]transf. 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 213.
James Nisbetis thrie hors quha brocht … ane raik of peittis 1678 Peebles B. Rec. II 95.
The horses to goe to Pinkie with ane raik of sclaits
