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.
Ransell, -cell, v. [? ON *reynsla n. f. reyna to prove, try, investigate. The vowel in ransell was perh. influenced by Ransak v. or Gael. rannsaich. Cf. mod. Eng. dial. (north-west) rencill to search (B. Kirby Lakeland Words (1898).] tr. To search (a house) (for stolen goods); also, to search for (the thing stolen). Only in Orkney and Shetland, after 1602. Also in the later dial. of these parts. —1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 8.
The thifteous steilling of ane scheip … quhilk wes ransellit and fund with him 1604 Ib. 136.
Certaine neutrall men to … ransell the haile houssis … for my lordis timmer 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. (ed.) 29.
Anent rancelling for thift … it salbe lesum to the pairtie interest, with the baillie or officer of thair parochin or tua or thrie honest men to be chosin be him, to rancell, search and seik all houssis and suspect places within the samen 1631 Orkney Bp. Ct. MS 80. 1689 Orkney Antiq. Soc. III 62.
[Complaint of deforcement of lawrightman and assistant] when being going about to ransell for stolen goods
