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.
Ranselling, -celling, -s(e)alling, vbl. n. [Ransell v.] The action of searching premises for stolen goods. —1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 9.
The ane halff thairof [a sheep] be ranselling wes fund 1615 Kirkwall Sheriff Ct. Act Bk. 4.
Anent rancelling of thift [v.r. see Ransell v. quot. 1615] 1631 Orkney Bp. Ct. MS 75.
Bernaird Mansone … being in rancelling did sie the said pannell give the said William Crafoord ane straik with ane battoun 1688 Orkney Antiq. Soc. III 61.
That the lawrightmen … at there ransealling, conforme to the custome of the countrey, hes found in his house [etc.] a1688 Wallace Orkney 105.
These lawrightmen … , if there be at any time any suspition of theft, they take some of their neighbours with them under the silence of the night, and make search for the theft, (which is called ransalling), they search every house they come to [etc.]
