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.
Rail(l)ar, -er, Ralar, -er, n. Also: rayler, realer. [e.m.E. railer (1575–85), rayler. Cf. Ra(i)lȝear(e n.] One who rails or inveighs; a reviler; a slanderer.(1) a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 285/23.
Gude renoun quhilk raillarris rage reprevis 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 260.
Mr. Jhone Row preiched … and was … called ane rayler 1558-66 Knox II 362.
It cumis to our earis that we ar called raillaris c1590 Fowler II 20/21.
Rasche railars 1615 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 89.
Maister John regrated that there war sae many railers in the toun 1653 Dumfries Kirk S. 22 Dec.
That constant railer, drunkard, & scold Jonet McKie 1655 Moray Synod 120.
A traffiqueing papist called Sorle … a malicious railer(b) a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 325/19.
Repent ȝe ralaris [Q. railleris] and restoir To thame thair fame quhome ȝe sklanderit befoir 1600-1610 Melvill 33.
Sic as lyket nocht the cause, tuk occasion to reprotche him as a rashe raler(c) 1570–1 Knox in Bann. Memor. 97.
Gif sho be innocent of ony of the crymes laid to her charge be me, then may I be accused as a realer(2) c1625 Misc. Spald. C. II lv.
A publict railer against religioun
