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.
Ramage, adj.1 Also: rammage, -asche, ramadge; Rammist. [ME (1390) and e.m.E. ramage, rammage (1567), OF ramage, late L. rāmāticus. See also Ramage,adj.2]
1. Of a bird or animal: Wild, untamed, unruly.c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 622.
He [Bucephalus] was sa ramage and sa feir 1549 Compl. 38/23.
There eftir I herd the rumour of rammasche foulis ande of beystis that maid grite beir c1590 J. Stewart 233 § 134.
Vnto the luir the lustiefalcone fair Vill be reclamit … The aufull lyon leinit is to ȝeild; No thing so rammage bot vill teime repair Be douce intreitment
2. Of a person: Fierce, violent; furios.Also transf.c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 12513.
For men callit ȝow cuvatus but ressoun all ramage Vncunnand gredy fyry and savage c1590 Fowler I 54/182.
This rammage and rebelling mayde 1643 Baillie II 72.
He is so extraordinarlie rammage, that I think we will hardlie receave him under our discipline — transf.1640 Lithgow Poet. Remains 251.
Mad were thy brains, … absurd, and rammage Ib. 252.
Thy rammage looke and glooming browes
3. Of a hawk: ‘Having left the nest, and begun to fly from branch to branch.’ Passing into: b. Wild. = 1 above.Cf. ME and e.m.E., in this sense (Gower).1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 28b.
Quhat is war than ane rammage halk to watche 1614 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 239.
I knau his maiestie vill nott forgett me quhen his ramage halks cums in 1642 Baillie II 27.
Waking as a ramadge hawk
