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.
Rat(t, n.1 [e.m.E. ratte (Caxton), MDu., MLG, Dan. rat, L. rota. Rote n.2] The wheel, the instrument of execution.In Sc. always pl., chiefly in the phr. on (apon) (the) rattis.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 51.
Crawdoun Kennedy, … Evill farit and dryit as Denseman on the rattis a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 424.
Quhen that the ravyns sall ryve out bath thine ene And on the rattis salbe thy residence Ib. 355. 1533 Boece 506.
Thai war castin apoun the rattis with brasin quhelis, quharein war dung scharp pykis thare to ly & to be fude to the crawis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10696.
Sentence … to be … On the rattis reuin, hangit, drawin & quarterit 1562 Reeves Sc. Prose bef. 1600 79.
Sum be hangit and sum be hedit vthir sum be pat vpone rattis 1622-6 Bisset II 239/13.
The rattis [F. la roue]
