Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Roll, Row, v.¹ P.p. also rold. [ME and e.m.E. rolle(n (Piers Plowman), appar. obs. after 1651; Rol(l n.¹] tr.

1. To write (a name) in a roll or list; to enter (a person) by name on a list, register or catalogue; to enrol. c1420 Wynt. viii 6191.
Off archeris thare assemblid were Twenty thowsand that rollyd war c1420 Ib. ix 1357.
Off all the warld the regyounys … Regestryd he gert, and rollyd be 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 16.
To pas to Lauder … and ressave the saidis musteris … and to roll thair names 1547 Ib. 76.
And roll thair names swa that my lord … may direct his lettres of cursing upoun the prelattis … for non-payment 1551–2 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 614.
Ordanis the provest … to … roll the names of thame that dois in the contrar 1571 Reg. Privy C. II 89.
Quhais names my Lord Regentis grace ordanis to be rollit, put in bill and deliverit to his grace 1572 St. A. Kirk S. 371.
And the inhabitantis namis of this citie to be rollit 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 382.
Becaus it is allegeit that he is not rollit and buikit amangis the rest of the redaris

b. To include, by name, in a list; to place on a register. Also fig. 1513 Doug. vi ii 54.
And hes thame rollit in my remembrance a1561 Norvell Meroure 29b.
That in the booke of life I should be rold 1572 Inverness Rec. I 220.
Lyke as hes beyne insert and rollit in our buikis a1658 Durham Blessedness Death (1713) 14.
How to get themselves rolled on the everlasting covenant for salvation

c. To enlist (a person) in a militia or military formation. 1548 Treasurer's Accounts IX 201.
To Duncane Dundas to roll pyonares withtin the toun of Edinburght 1552 Reg. Privy C. I 130.
Ane sufficient man weill bodin, for everie xl merkland of auld extent to be visiit, considderit, and rollit be the capitane … gif thay be sufficient ebill or nocht

d. To enter (a person) on a list of those to be charged in a court of law. 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 115.
And quhar that outlandis men or nychtbouris, na frehalderis, can be apprehendit cuttand our alleris, we ordand our seriandis … to arrest thaim to our court and row thaim for spulye

2. To enter (a contract, legal action, judgment, etc.) on the rolls, or records, of court. 14.. Quoniam Attachiamenta c. 43.
The processe aw to be rollyt apon this maner 1450 Ayr B. Ct. 14 April.
Askit the dome to be giffin and this Mechel Mason askit to be rollit in playn court 1477–8 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 462.
The quhilk dome the said Schir Alex. procurator askit to be rowit & tharof ane instrument of the samyn 1497–8 Acts Lords of Council II 102.
That the schiref … roll it [sc. the unlaw] in his court buke 1513 Wigtown B. Ct. 14a.
That nay sesingis be geffyng in browght … bot geff it be rollit in the court bowk of the town 1516 Perth Guildry p. 488 (12 May).
Efter the tenour of the assedationis maid in tymes bigane … rollit in this buk 1552 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 15.
That ane register buik be maid and all the said seasins minutit and rollit thairin 1570 Treasurer's Accounts XII 218. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 103.
The party defendand … may … annul all that proces lawfully … gif the clerk hes not rolled the proces formally 1622-6 Bisset I 145/1.
That all privilegiat materis … quhair witnessis ar nocht present, be rollit markit and producit the day of the ingeving thereof [etc.] 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 101.
In causa John Mwir contra Neill M‘Neill callit et rowit pro primo

3. To enter, or engross (an account) in a register of accounts. 1593 Exchequer Rolls XXII 582.
Although the compt of Teling … be maid of this yeir, rollit, and eque gevin furth, that [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Ballivvs.
Quhen the compter is charged … conforme to ane former compt, rolled of before