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.
Rekles(s)ly, Raklesly, -lie, -lye, adv. Also: rec(k)-, rac(k)(e)-; rake-, raik-, (rask-) and -lis-, -las-. [ME and e.m.E. reckelesly (Cursor M.), rek- (Rolle), f. Rekles adj. Cf. obs. Eng. recchelesly, etc., OE recceléaslíce, réceléæslíce.] Recklessly, in the usual senses.
1. Without thought of or regard to consequences; rashly, impetuously.a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 254.
[She] callit hyre-self … Of wrech that sa reklesly That … sic a barne The tothyr tyme ȝet sa forfarne c1420 Ratis R. 1424.
Syk tyme is raklesly our-rwn 1456 Hay II 102/3.
And how thai suld be of grete drede to … sched mannis blude oure reklesly a1500 Henr. Fab. 758 (Bann.).
And rakleslye he said, … Strakand his wambe [etc.] c1475 Wall. ix 73.
The … reskew off Scotland, Our raklesly I haiff tayn vpon me a1488 Facs. Nat. MSS II lxxvi.
The kingis ambassiat quhethir reklessly or of necligence he wait nocht excedit the boundis of the instructionis ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 133.
Robert the Bruce rakleslie First tynt syn wan ws wichtlie 1513 Doug. ix vi 48. 1536–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 177.
And we ordand Jhone Freir to lay als mekyll muik upone Male Mynto land neirby as scho hes lait one it raklisly be seycht of nychtbouris c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. 247/38.
To princes als it is ane vyce … To ryd or ryn our rakleslie a1568 Scott xxx 54. 1568 Buch. Indict. 42.
Sum wyiffis that haid spokyne rakleslie c1475 Wall. (1570) viii 270 (see Rekles adv.). c1610 Melville Mem. 402.
Quhilk was weill raclesly done be the said chanceler 1618 in N. Meldrum Forteviot (1926) 128.
Mr. James Ros … hes askit his haill wrettis, obligatioun and all, as I suppone, rakleslie
b. Carelessly, heedlessly, negligently.c1420 Ratis R. 174.
That ill corrupcioune of aire Will … mekile empare The men that … kepis thaim raklesly & mys c1475 Wall. x 1158.
He serwyt dede be rycht law off his king, So raklesly myskepyt sic a thing Ib. iv 227. 1496 Acta Conc. II 15.
The clerc of the court … reklesly put in the sade retour Hawthornesyke 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4540.
[The knight] prayit his gaistis for to be blyith and glaid Howbeit his tabill was reckleslie doun laid
2. As a result of carelessness or negligence; through (an) oversight. Passing into: b. Not intentionally; without premeditation; by error or mischance; accidentally. Only Sc. The most common sense throughout the period.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxii 609.
The prest … rek[l]asly … let it [sc. the chalice] fall c1420 Wynt. vii 442.
Kyng off Ingland Willam Rede Reklesly wes slayne to dede 1425 Acts II 12/2.
Gif it be the man at aw the hous that birnis it reklesly [etc.] 1456 Hay II 156/27.
Symple folk that makis faultis reklesly mare for negligence … na for malice a1500 Seven S. 949.
My sisteris gretis sa saire Becaus I hurt me reklesly 1537 Crim. Trials I i 217.
Albeit I haue happynnit reklesly to vary in the dait of my instrument 1538–9 Misc. Spald. C. II 194.
The leist of oure small signetis is stollin or rekleslie tynt 1544 Reg. Privy S. III 159/2. 1564 Jervise Memor. Angus & Mearns I 257.
[In consequence of] bairnies reclesslie breking the glas 1578 Reg. Privy C. III 60.
The Lordis … findis that the … slaying of the said stirk … wes done reckleslie a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 43.
Recleslie 1635 Dundonald Par. Rec. 396.
Denyit that he liftit ane axe to his wyf … , bot cuist it to hir … and reklesslie it tuicht hir 1643 Tayler Hist. Fam. Urquhart 32.
Rekles[l]ie got a collatioun whiche was prepairit for another and was, all thrie, found deid … on the morne(b) c1420 Wynt. ii Prol. 11.
Bathe the eldys … The quhilkys as Orosius … tellys ws, Ner foryhet ware raklesly c1475 Wall. v 158.
Thus raklesly this gud knycht [haiff] thai tynt 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 238b.
Ane letter of tak … vas revin raklesly be his barne 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 363.
Raskleslie a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 22/46. 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 162/2.
Samwell Watsoun … rakleslie come athort the markis quhen the said David Blythis stane wes fleand a1578 Pitsc. I 148 heading.
Slaine … be ane of his awin gunis that brak rackleslie in hir schutting 1594 Edinb. B. Rec. V 125. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 159. 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 171.
The parrell of these gentilmen, … too rakleslie cassin in that danger c1650 Spalding I 127.
Johne Porter, wricht, rackleslie fell af of ane scaffold Ib. 297.
His wyf, rakleslie schot, … quhairby scho becam crippill on ane of hir feit 1655 Cockburnspath Baron Ct. 20 Dec.
Alexander confessed that he touched him rackeleslie with the flaill vpon the heid(c) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1157.
Blynd Lameth, raikleslye Did slay Cayn a1578 Pitsc. I 52 h. of ch.
The Erlle of Craufurd slane raikleslie(d) 16.. Wode's Psalter (ed.) 133.
How I have notit the basse heir in the counter buke I can not tell, bot rakelesly
