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.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1499-1585, 1637
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Raving, Reaving, -yng, vbl. n. [ME and e.m.E. ravynge (Prompt. Parv.), raving (1624), Rave v.1] Wild, extravagant or nonsensical speech or declamation; meaningless noise. Also pl. c1420 Ratis Raving 1801.
This matere The quhilk is ratis raving cald, Bot for na raving I it hald a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 895.
Schir Rolland, I rek nocht of thy rauingis 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 177.
Nevir word of verite bot all in waist went Throw roytnes and ravyng c1552 Lynd. Mon. 548.
The rauyng of the rukis 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 13.
As … propensnes to sleip albeit on day, rauing and walking a1585 Polwart Flyt. 561 (T).
Syne ryplie to his rude raving [H. reauing rood] reply 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 285.
The fever-ravings of a poor tempted sinner
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"Raving vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/raving_vbl_n>
