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: 1569-1683
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Rawn, Raun(e, n. Also: rawne; rayne (? erroneous form). [e.m.E. rawne (Cath. Angl.), Dan. ravn.] = Roun n.1 Fish roe. Pl. and sing. — 1569 Inverness Rec. I 182.
Gif … Patrik … be comprehendit … [to] slaye ony blak fysche that hes raynes in thame 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 343.
The heiring to be … vngilt or spawnit, having heid and taill with melt and rawne 1585 James VI Ess. 78.
Evin so of rawnis do mightie fishes breid 1581-1623 Id. Poems II 92/36.
As selchs haue milke and young ons lacking rawnes 1659 [J. B.] Burnett Kirks of Cowie and Fetteresso (1927) 38.
A piece of fish raune 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 100.
The lobster is best with us in the beginning of May, at which time they have their rauns [pr. ranns]
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"Rawn n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rawn>
